Massachusetts Photo Gallery

Photos taken on and near I-95 in Massachusetts. Want to share yours? Feel free to E-mail me

Go to Attleboro to Norwood Sign Replacement Project (New 8/2/22)

I-95 Reading to Lynnfield Sign Replacement Project, 2020-2022 (Updated 5/16/21)

The notice to proceed for this project came on February 26, 2020. Work includes updating overhead and ground based signage from current Exit 56 A/B (Former Exits 38 A/B) in Reading (along with advance signage for I-93 on I-95 South) to the I-95 North/Route 128 split (Exit 63, former Exit 45) in Lynnfield.  In July 2020 the contractor, Liddell Bros. started placing its orange future overhead sign placement tags along the roadway. In October the process of getting core borings at the proposed new sign locations started. Foundations for the few new overhead signs started going in during the fall of 2021. This has continued into May 2022, meanwhile there is little evidence, despite an April 2022 announcement on the project page, that they are installing new ground mounted signs in the project area. Here are some new photos taken May 14 northbound:

Hard to spot, but there is a sign foundation prior to the orange Liddell Bros. tag behind the guardrail northbound in Reading. The reassurance markers and speed limit sign are not new.

Another sign foundation for the future 1/2 mile advance sign for the Route 129 exit in Wakefield.

There does not appear to be new foundation next to the orange Liddell Bros. tag further northbound in Wakefield.

Just prior to the Salem Street exit there is a new sign post, but no new sign.

Another foundation along with an orange Liddell Bros. tag behind the guardrail northbound in Lynnfield for the future 2 miles advance for Route 128.

This Liddell Bros. tag was placed on the post for the Plows Use Caution sign (at least you know that has not been replaced), foundation is partly visible below.

Is this a new gore sign for the US 1 South/Route 129 West exit or a well done new exit number overlay of the existing sign?

Here's a few earlier photos from a tour of the project zone on December 12, 2021:

Here's one a few new gore signs placed along I-95 by the end of 2021, this one on I-95 North for the Route 28 South exit in Reading.

However, most of the gore signs still have not been replaced, like this one for the Route 28 North exit.

Examples of some of the installed overhead sign foundations:

The orange contractor placement tag indicated the position of he sign foundation hidden behind the guardrail.

A closer view of another foundation behind a guardrail headed south in Wakefield.

Another foundation behind the orange location sign put up by Liddell Bros., the contractor for the project.

More, hopefully, to come....

Thanks to Charlene White of MassDOT, I obtained sign plans for the project, here, heading north, are the 1-Mile advance signs, all with the now former sequential exit number:

And the 2-Mile advance diagrammatic sign for the Route 128 exit on I-95 North:

Some other interesting signs, there will be rare 2-miles advance sign for a non-interstate for US 1/Route 129 on I-95 North and

there will also be a 1/3 mile advance sign:

Here's some of the overhead ramp signage plans:

Some of the signage at the ramps between US 1, Route 129 and I-95 will include Route 128 shields, not allowed on other I-95 signs farther from the two route split in Peabody, the current sign on the left does not have Gloucester, only Portsmouth, NH:

Here's a typical set of ground mounted ramp signs:

Here's a combination Town Line / County Line / River Crossing sign:

I-95 Attleboro to Norwood Sign Replacement Project, 2019-2022

The project got the Notice to Proceed on May 1, 2019. Work, which includes installing new VMSs and traffic cameras at interchanges is planned to be completed in the Fall of 2021. This gallery will post sign plan images and current sign photos, with new sign photos added as the project continues. In August 2019 the contractor started placing orange tags at the future sites of overhead signs. Work was suspended for the winter in December 2019 and was restarted in the spring. In July 2020 a notice appeared on the MassDOT project site that the contractor was finished with placing new regulatory and route signage and would begin constructing ground-mounted sign foundations in mid-July. A drive along the northern part of the corridor on August 2, 2020 confirmed the presence of new reassurance marker signs, but not everywhere, and where placed, were not consistent. The first new VMS was put up in October 2020, the rest were up by January 2021 (see photo below). Meanwhile, sign foundations for the exit gore signs were placed along with those for one-post cantilever advance signs by mid-2021. By August new ground mounted regulatory and some new gore signs had been placed. A staging area for overhead signs has been created in the Mansfield Rest Area on I-95 North (see photos), new overhead signs started to be placed as of May 2022, work that is supposed to continue until October. As of August 1, about 60% of the signs had been installed including all the signs southbound for Neponset Street, Mechanic Street/South Main Street and Route 1A southbound and the I-295, To Route 152 and South Main Street/Mechanic Street exit signs northbound.

Sign Replacement Project Photos

These will be placed based on exit number starting in Attleboro, and will be updated over time.

RI Exits

MassDOT as part of the I-95 sign replacement is also updating signage for the first two exits in Rhode Island headed south. These signs were skipped over during the last sign replacement project.  The original plans were for a 1/2 mile advance for the first exit, Roosevelt Avenue, and a 1 Mile advance for the second US 1 to RI 114:

There was no 1/2 mile sign up for Roosevelt Avenue, but here is the 1 Mile advance for US 1. The exit number will need to be changed on August 7 when RIDOT plans to start exit renumbering along I-95. The new exit will be 42, it is unknown whether the change will be made by MassDOT or the RIDOT contractors.

The only sign up for Roosevelt Avenue as of August 1 is at the exit itself, this was not in the original plans. The new exit will be 43. The 1/2 mile advance may now be going up on a gantry with the exit sign for US 1, which is also not up as of yet, see below.

EXIT 1 (SB)

New overhead signs started appearing towards the middle of July. All the signs were up by August 1. The signs share gantries with signs for the Route 1A exit:

The first advance sign is for 1 1/2 miles paired with the 1/2 mile advance for the North Route 1A exit (wouldn't a north banner with US 1 make sense here?).

The second advance sign is at the Route 1A South exit ramp. As indicated above this was the last sign for US 1 currently up.

The orange tab seen on the left probably marks the location of the overhead sign that will have the US 1 South exit sign as well as the 1/2 mile advance sign for Roosevelt Avenue in Pawtucket.

EXITS 2 A/B

Signs started being put up for this exit in mid-July and was completed in both directions by the end of the month, heading south:

The 1 Mile advance, there's no Old Exit sign because the number was not changed in 2021.

The overheads at the ramp to Route 1A North. Again wouldn't a North banner for US 1 make sense here? Turning around...

The new 1 mile advance for Route 1A is just across the border, note however, it is not quite where the placement tag is located.

The 1/2 mile advance for the South Route 1A exit which is heading back into Rhode Island.

The overheads at the Route 1A South exit paired with the 1/4 mile advance for 1A North.

The last new overhead for Route 1A South at mile marker 1.2.

EXITS 4 B/A (EXIT 4 NB)

Advance signs were put up on I-95 South for the new Route 123 exits in June:

The 1 Mile advance sign southbound with the Old Exit 3B-A sign attached low on the new support post.

The new 1/2 Mile advance sign. Notice also the new auxiliary sign for Norton, partially hidden in plant growth, originally it listed exit 4A which is the wrong direction, it was fixed later.

The exit signs at the Route 123 West exit were replaced in the second half of July, still waiting for the East exit as of August 1.

Turning around and heading north...

The 1 Mile advance sign. Here the Old Exit 3 sign taken off the previous support is posted high on the new one.

The 1/2 Mile advance sign. Like the Route 123 East signs southbound , the signs at the exit have not been replaced yet.

A few extra from Route 123:

A new set of guide signs and an Jct. I-95 shield along Route 123 headed east.

A new sign at the ramp for I-95 South.

The 1 Mile advance sign southbound with the Old Exit 3B-A sign attached low on the new support post.

Empty post standing by for new North I-95 reassurance marker after the Route 123 exit.

EXIT 6

All the signs on I-95 North for the I-295 South exit have been replaced as of June 20, starting with the 2 Miles advance.

The 1 Mile advance gets the transplanted yellow Old Exit 4 sign.

The new 1/2 Mile advance sign.

The I-295 South exit sign shares a gantry with the 1 Mile advance for the To Route 152 exit. There are no new signs northbound as of July 17, however only the advance signs need replacing, the exit signs were updated during the recent interchange reconstruction project.

There is one newly placed support southbound, for the future 1/2 Mile advance sign.

EXIT 7

The new 1/2 Mile Advance overhead sign. This gets the Old Exit 5 sign.

The exit sign has also been replaced.  None of the Exit 7 signs have been replaced heading south as of July 17.

EXITS 12 A/B

The 2 Miles seen above and the 1 Mile advance northbound (below) are the only signs to be replaced so far for the I-495 exit headed north. 

There are a couple support posts up at the interchange as of July 17:

The right hand posts for the overheads that will replaced the bridge mounted signs at the I-495 South exit on I-95 North, and...

The right hand support at the I-495 North exit ramp on I-95 South.

EXITS 13 A/B

One new signs has been put up for the Route 140 exit through August 1, the 1 mile advance southbound:

A partial shot is all I could manage, not having the camera ready due to the sign being hidden by the truck seen above.

A few support posts have been placed, 2 southbound and 1 northbound:

The only support seen northbound was for the future exit signage at the ramp for the Route 140 South exit.

On I-95 South there is a right support for the 1/2 mile advance for Route 140 North, and...

And also a right support for future signage at the exit ramp for Route 140 North.

EXIT 17

All the new signs southbound and northbound have been put up for this exit as of August 1. Heading south...

The 1 Mile advance southbound, now listing both streets at the exit which previously had one listed on the overhead and the other on an auxiliary sign (now taken down).

The 1/2 Mile advance southbound, now listing both streets at the exit as well.

The exit sign has also been replaced in this direction. Turning around and heading north...

The 1 Mile advance with the Old Exit 8 sign also high on the support post. Note the street listing is reversed.

The 1/2 mile advance.

The exit sign was not replaced in this direction until late July.

EXIT 19

Most of the southbound signs were replaced in June, the northbound signs in July. First, heading south...

All the previous signage on I-95 South has been replaced. Here's the 1 mile advance sign with a transplanted yellow Old Exit 9 sign.

Here's the 1/2 mile advance sign.

All the signage on I-95 South has been replaced. Here's the 1 mile advance sign with a transplanted yellow Old Exit 9 sign.

There will also be a new 2 Miles advance put in northbound, not up as of July 17:

Here are the support posts for that sign prior to the Coney Street/Walpole Street exit which will also have the overhead sign for that exit. Turning around and heading north, the advance signs were all  put up between the middle and end of July:

The 2 Miles advance for US 1 to Route 27. The 2 Miles here due to the importance in traffic accessing Foxboro, though the town has already been passed by on I-95 in this direction.

The 1 Mile advance just behind an older North I-95 reassurance marker, the second between Exits 17 and 19. The signs in this direction include a reference for Route 27 (noted on auxiliary signs for Exit 21 southbound).

The 1/2 Mile advance overhead. The exit sign had not been replaced as of August 1.

Extra photos - New signage along US 1 at the I-95 exit ramps:

There were some other new signs off of I-95, here the rest of the signage at the US 1 interchange had been put up headed northbound in late May or early June, the first set here.

The second set at the ramp to I-95 North.

The last set at the split of ramps for South and North US 1.

The first new signage at the ramp to I-95 South from US 1 South in Sharon features side-by-side signs with Left Exit tabs. The signs in the distance have also been updated, but not on the northbound side of the US 1 'Rotary'.

EXIT 21 (SB)

The only sign replaced for this exit is the 1 Mile advance, now with both streets listed on the main sign.

The 1/2 Mile advance sign, with orange placement tag still in place behind, guess they put it in the correct spot. The exit sign had not be replaced as of July 17.

EXITS 23 A/B

All the signs on I-95 South have been replaced as of July 17, no signs have been replaced heading north.

The newly placed 1 Mile advance sign for Neponset Street heading south. The recycled Old Exits 11 B/A sign sits in the middle of this support post.

The newly placed 1/2 Mile advance sign. The exit signs had been put up in early June...

New signage at the first exit ramp for Neponset Street in Norwood, put up in early June.

The other new sign sign replaces the bridge mounted one for the second Neponset Street exit. No other new signage, or supports seen going north or south as of June 20.

Other signs:

The future post for a new South I-95 reassurance marker can be seen behind the current on after the Route 140 interchange. At I-495 I turned around and headed back north.

The new ground mounted 1 Mile advance sign for the Mansfield Rest Area on I-95 North (hope to get a better photo next time). The previous signs were overhead versions.

Earlier Photos:

The first overhead sign support seen installed along I-95 itself, in Canton, 5/7/22 (others have been put up apparently at the Route 140 exit):

There was not a corresponding post along the left side of the road.

Overhead sign installation at US 1 interchange in Sharon in April 2022, photos taken April 25 and May 6, 2022:

New support posts can be seen behind the existing advance overhead signs for the I-95 North ramp on US 1.

Support posts can also be seen behind the overhead signs at the I-95 North ramp, the left one hidden by trees.

The left support can be seen better in this photo taken 12 days later. 

The supports at the northern end of the US 1 Rotary are in front of the existing sign. 

Similar supports were also put up in the southbound direction. Here at the ramp to I-95 South. Additional new supports for the next overhead sign can be seen in the distance.

Photos from earlier in May:

A newer blue Lodging Services sign for the US 1 exit on I-95 South, put up since October 2021.

A pair of new support posts appear in front of a pair of old ones on I-95 North entering Sharon. The old posts used to hold a sign for Norwood Hospital but that facility had to be closed and torn down after severe flooding from a thunderstorm a couple years ago. I assume the new posts will remain empty until the new hospital is completed.

A new, presumably temporary gore sign at the Neponset Street Canton exit on I-95 North. The former Old Exit 11A sign from the larger sign was placed below this smaller gore sign.

EARLIER PHOTOS

Taken at the Mansfield Rest Area staging area, taken March 18, 2022:

Sign gantry structures await construction in Rest Area parking lot.

Many more sign structures await at the other side of the parking lot.

A ground mounted guide sign for I-95 South sits between the parking areas in Mansfield.

Other ground mounted signs being stored include gore signs, town boundary signs and guide signs.

These guide sign are slated for the Mechanic Street/South Main Street exits.

A closeup view of the future gore sign for the To Route 152 in North Attleboro.

More sign supports being stored at the other end of the parking lot.

Another pile of gantries awaiting overhead signs the other side of the parking lot.

Here are photos of new ground mounted signs spotted on November 21, then earlier photos of signs and foundations from 2021 and earlier in 2020:

A new To Route 27 sign approaching the Coney Street exit on I-95 South. While there has long been To Route 27 trailblazers on the exit ramp, this is the first one on the highway itself.

Approaching the I-495 exit on I-95 South. Taunton is understandable for I-495 South, but Lowell? This sign is also northbound, where the city might make more sense.

A new brown sign for the Xfinity Center also prior to I-495. How much extra did including the tree graphic in the sign cost?

A new sign marking the crossing of the Wading River, the sign is almost as big as the bridge.

New version of post-interchange distance sign after the I-495 exit.

Now entering North Attleboro prior to the I-95 South Rest Area.

A new gore sign for the To Route 152 exit, with the Old Exit 5 sign moved from the old sign.

Prior to the I-295 South exit an new Entering Attleboro sign.

A new sign for the Ten Mile River bridge is along the ramp from I-295 North to I-95 South.

The completed foundation for the new 1 Mile advance sign for the Route 123 exit awaits behind the current one on I-95 South.

The new auxiliary sign for Norton has the wrong letter, it should be A for the Route 123 East exit, in any case however it would be faster to take I-495 South.

The new gore sign for the Route 123 West exit, and older Old Exit 3B sign below.

Another new post-interchange distance sign after the Route 123 exit on I-95 South. Would US 1 be a better choice than Route 1A?

This new Weigh Station gore sign leads to a closed gate, has anyone seen this station open?

A new sign for crossing the Seven Mile River 'Bridge" on I-95 South prior to the Route 1A exits.

The new gore sign for the Route 1A North exit, no Old Exit sign needed here.

The new gore sign for the Route 1A South exit.

The new gore sign for the last Massachusetts exit on I-95 South, US 1. Not the last new signs though, the gantry that has the first two Rhode Island exit signs at the state line is to be replaced under this project. Turning around and heading north...

Another new "bridge" sign for the Seven Mile River, which is 1.6 miles from the Rhode Island border.

The new 3/4 Mile advance Parking Area sign on I-95 North.

The new post-interchange distance sign after the Route 1A exit.

A set of sign posts awaiting a sign prior to the Route 123 exit on I-95 North.

A new large auxiliary sign for the Attleboro Commuter Rail Station prior to the To Route 152 exit.

A new combination blue hospital and green auxiliary sign also for the To Route 152 exit, new Entering Attleboro sign in distance.

A single sign post awaits its sign after the To Route 152 exit on I-95 North.

Another post-interchange distance sign, why the distance to Canton instead of I-93?

It appears the overhead 1/2 mile advance for the Rest Area in Mansfield is to be taken down soon after a new ground mounted version was put up (somewhat interesting in that they are storing the future overhead posts and signs at the rest area, but it no longer gets any overhead signage.

The northbound version of the auxiliary sign for the I-495 exits, maybe Lowell makes more sense here.

The new version of the Rest Area exit sign sits behind new version of the Mansfield town line sign on I-95 North.

A new combination town and county border sign when entering Foxboro is located in the middle of the I-495 interchange.

The South Main Street exit is the location for the next (and first) Sharon town line sign (photo taken 11/7).

The last new sign northbound is the gore sign at the I-93/US 1 North exit, with the Old Exit 12 sign added at the bottom.

Earlier Photos taken on August 15, 2021:

A new town boundary sign for Norwood on I-95 South between the Neponset Street and Coney Street exits.

A new gore sign for the Coney Street exit with a large new milepost based number.

A new Sharon town line sign prior to the US 1 exit on I-95 South.

Another new gore sign, here for the the US 1 exit on I-95 South.

The new gore sign prior for the I-495 North exit on I-95 South.

There's also a new gore sign for the I-495 South exit, and a new town line/county line (Entering Mansfield, Bristol County) in the distance.

Now heading back north, there is a new gore sign for the Route 140 North exit.

There is also a new Entering Walpole sign prior to the US 1 exit.

Also another Entering Sharon sign heading north after the US 1 exit (the Next Exit 11 sign than previously stood near here and became Next Exit -- after exit renumbering has now been taken down).

Next is a new Entering Canton sign prior to crossing the Neponset River...

Whose bridge has a new Neponset River sign.

Photos taken on January 24, 2021:

The foundation for one of the future US 1 exit advance signs can be seen under the guardrail behind the orange contractor tag on I-95 South.

The foundation for one of the future Route 140 advance signs can be seen under the guardrail on the right, also on I-95 South.

Meanwhile, there still is not a foundation at the tag marking the future site of the 1 Mile advance sign.

Heading northbound, though mostly hidden, there is a foundation at the tag marking the future site of the exit sign for the To Route 152 exit in North Attleborough.

Here's one of the three other variable message signs that have been placed, two southbound and, here, 1 northbound approaching the I-495 exit by the Mansfield Rest Area.

The orange tag here now marks the site of a foundation, seen after the mile marker, below the guardrail, for a future advance sign for I-495.

As does the orange tag here prior to the exit for I-495 South, mostly hidden behind the guardrail.

A better look at the foundations for the new gore sign at the I-495 North exit. Other examples seen previously, in photos below.

The orange tag here also now marks the site of a foundation, again hidden by the guardrail, for the future 1/2 mile advance sign for the US 1 exit northbound.

The foundation for the 1 Mile advance sign for the Neponset Street exit, can be seen here below the guardrail.

The orange tag here marks the site of a equipment to construct the foundation for the Neponset Street, Norwood exit sign.

PREVIOUS PHOTOS

Taken November 8, 2020:

One of the new style of reassurance markers put up after the US 1/Route 1A exit in Attleboro, the first one.

An another one just before the truck weigh station, if you are going to put two up, perhaps after the station would have been better.

An orange contractor tag for either a future Route 123 or I-295 advance sign prior to the current overhead signs.

The orange cone marks the site of a foundation for the future Exit 4 gore sign (to be changed from 3 as part of the state's exit renumbering project) can be seen behind the current one at the ramp to Route 123.

Another new reassurance marker after the Route 123 exit.

Another contractor tag for a future advance overhead sign for the I-295 exit, with new guardrail installed to protect it.

Another tag can be seen beyond the current exit sign for I-295.

This tag is for and advance for the I-495 exit.

A new Rest Area sign has been installed in Mansfield.

A foundation has also been placed for the future Exit 12A gore sign behind the current Exit 6A one at the I-495 South ramp.

While no contractor tag is seen near the current I-495 North exit sign, there is a new foundation for the future gore sign by the orange cone behind the current one.

There is another new foundation by the orange cone for the future gore sign at the South Main Street exit in Sharon behind the current one.

Another orange cone marks the site of the foundation for the future Exit 18 gore sign for the US 1 exit, behind the current sequential version.

The first overhead VMS to be installed as part of the sign replacement contract, along with a new traffic camera approaching the Neponset Street exits.

The new foundation for the future Neponset Street East gore sign can be seen behind the current version.

Along with the foundation for the future gore sign for Exit 23B to westbound Neponset Street, seen to the left of the toppled orange cone.

Earlier Photos

This new reassurance marker after the US 1 exit in Walpole is current MassDOT specification, but placed on existing sign supports. There was no marker after the Neponset Street exit.

This reassurance marker was replaced also, duplicating a wide style marker previously placed here just prior to, and thus unneeded, the Mechanic Street exit in Foxboro.

A new Speed Limit 65 sign after the Mechanic Street exit.

This new wide shield variety of reassurance markers is on new posts after the Route 140 exit in Mansfield.

Turning around at I-495, there was no reassurance marker after the I-495 exit.

This is the first of what turned out to be 3 new reassurance markers between Route 140 and the South Main Street exit. A photo of the second and third  ones can be seen below in photos taken in February, all of the 'normal' shield variety.

Another 'normal' size shield after the South Main Street exit, but the number font is a little different than the other versions. A sign placement tag can be seen beyond the sign.  Taking the US 1 exit...

A new North US 1 reassurance marker can be seen before a quite ugly looking North I-95 trailblazer, the South version seen in the distance, and...

A closer look at a better looking sign. Finally, new signage along Coney Street in Sharon:

The new sign contrasts with the old guide/paddle sign that will replaced during the project. There was no reassurance marker after the on-ramp on I-95 North. I did not spot any new sign foundations but it did appear ones were being constructed for the new variable message signs.

Earlier photos of a few tag placement photos south of I-295 taken in March 2020:

The tag for the future 1-Mile advance sign for the Route 123 exit is seen behind the current overhead support post.

Tags on both sides just after the current overhead support posts at the Route 123 West exit ramp.

The orange tag for the future 1-Mile advance overhead sign for the Route 1A interchange is well past the current sign.

The tag for the 1/2 mile advance sign for the North Route 1A exit is just behind the current sign. Note the mile marker, this exit will maintain its current number, despite it being closer to the the Mile 1 marker.

The tags at the ramp to North Route 1A, the left hand is hidden, are slightly behind the current overhead gantry.

The tag seen on the right is just inside the Massachusetts border and marks the spot for future overhead signs for the first 2 Rhode Island exits, note the older design of the signs, these were not replaced during the last I-95 sign replacement project. (See sign plans for these signs below, which may, or may not have new exit numbers when put up.)

Here are a few more examples of tag placements taken in February 2020:

Heading North after the I-295 exit in North Attleboro:

An orange contractor tag marking the position of the future 1/2 Mile advance sign for the To Route 152 exit.

The tag here shows that the future overhead sign at the To Route 152 exit will not be bridge mounted.

The orange tag here is for the 1-Mile advance overhead for the I-495 exit in Mansfield, a significant distance after the current sign.

The two tags before the ramp to I-495 South again show the new overheads will not be bridge mounted.

The wide orange tag seen between the I-495 bridge is for the location of a future traffic camera.

The tag for the future 1/4 Mile advance sign for the Route 140 South exit in Foxboro is beyond the current sign.

The contractor tags (left side is hidden) mark the location of the future overhead signage at the ramp to Route 140 South. The future exit numbers will be 13 A/B.

The tag for the future overhead exit sign for Route 140 North.

The North I-95 reassurance marker after the Route 140 exits is fairly new, the replacement of a former faded wide shield version (see below for one still standing).

The orange tag in this photo marks the future location of the 1-Mile advance sign for the South Main Street exit in Foxboro.

This is the second replacement reassurance marker between Route 140 and South Main Street, placed on the existing posts for a faded wide shield version.

The orange tag marking the future location of the 1/2 mile advance sign for South Main Street.

There is only one tag at the ramp to South Main Street despite the fact that there will be a 2-Mile advance sign for the US 1 exit, perhaps it will be at another location. The new exit signs (see plans below) will have both S. Main Street and Mechanic Street (currently the exit text heading south) on the overhead signs.

The one remaining wide shield reassurance marker, badly faded, headed north, the orange tag behind it marks the future location of the 1-Mile advance sign for the US 1 exit.

The orange tag here marks the future location of the 1/2 mile overhead sign for the US 1/To Route 27 exit in Sharon.

The tag for the future sign ahead of the ramp to US 1. The new signs will have To Route 27  in both directions, currently only northbound.

Another replacement reassurance marker after the US 1 exit. I am assuming that this will be replaced again under the current sign replacement contract.

Another wide tag marking site of future traffic camera. Before the Neponset Street exit there are a pair of similar tags which I believe are for a future VMS gantry.

Heading South from the I-93 "128" interchange in Canton:

Tags are on both sides of the road (right side obscured) for the future overhead sign gantry at the ramp to Neponset Street west in Westwood.

The placement of this tag indicates the new overhead sign for the second Neponset Street exit will not be bridge mounted.

This tag is for the future 1-Mile Advance overhead sign for the Coney Street exit heading south into Sharon.

The tag for the future 1/2 Mile Advance overhead, a photo near the exit ramp is below.

From August 2019:

Orange tag behind current 1-Mile Advance sign for Neponset Street exits on I-95 South in Westwood.

Two tags further south mark future site that will have new 1 1/2 Mile Advance sign for US 1 exit as well as 1/4 advance for Coney Street, ramp seen in distance.

The contractor tag for the future US 1 exit sign is between the current sign and the bridge carrying US 1 North traffic.

The tag for the future 1/2 mile advance sign for Mechanic Street is behind the current overhead sign.

The two contractor tags are behind the current gantry for the 1/2 mile advance for the Route 140 North exit in Foxboro.

Two more tags mark the site of the future I-495 exit signs behind the current overheads.

The tag here is for the future site of the 1/2 mile advance overhead for the To Route 152 exit in North Attleboro(ugh).

The contractor tag for the 1/2 mile advance overhead for the I-295 South exit has been placed before the noise wall in Attleboro (the remaining signs were put up 2 years ago and will not be replaced (see below). Turning around and heading north...

Two other tags heading north at the ramp to Neponset Street eastbound in Norwood.

SIGN PLANS

Sign Plan Photos courtesy of  Charlene White at MassDOT, one example of advance and ramp signage, plus other interesting signs:

Exit 1 (SB only)

Exits 2 A/B:

The ramp sign for Route 1A South will add Newport Ave to the text.

Exits 3 A/B

The Advance signage northbound will now list S(outh) Attleboro, same as southbound, instead of Norton which will go on an auxiliary sign.

South Attleboro replaced Norton on the sign for Route 123 West.

Exit 4

These signs have already been placed on I-95 South as part of the I-295 Ramp Widening Project completed in 2018.

Exit 5

Exits 6 A/B

The I-495 North control city has been changed to Marlboro from Worcester. Taunton and Lowell will be destinations on the auxiliary signs.

Exits 7 A/B

Exit 8

The plans have Mechanic Street/Foxboro added to the overhead signs, this was previously on ground-mounted auxiliary signs.

Exit 9

The 2 Mile Advance signs are new. Typically, MassDOT does these for Interstate exits only, perhaps with Gillette Stadium as a destination for this exit they made an exception.

Exit 10 (SB only)

As with Exit 8, a new destination, Norwood Street in Sharon, was added to this sign, separated from the original by a line.

Exits 11 A/B

Other signs

The Mass. Guide/Paddle signs on approaching secondary roadways will have mixed case lettering:

The overhead sign for I-95 North on Neponset Street in Norwood will include a reference to I-93:

The sign replacement project will update the exits signs for the first 2 Rhode Island exits which haven't been updated since the 1970s:

Following recent MassDOT practice, the exit gore signs on ramps from intersecting secondary roadways will be replaced by signs like these:

The sign detail plans came with this interesting note: Is MassDOT planning to revive its Milepost Exit Conversion Project before the I-95 project is over? Or was this note that first appears with the sign plans for the Rhode Island exits due to the numbers possibly changing next year that was mistakenly carried over to all the Massachusetts exit plans?

Photos of existing signs coming soon....

The existing 1-Mile advance sign southbound in Attleboro, already listing S. Attleboro as a control city.

The ramp signage at the Route 123 exit.

Misc. Photos - Latest from I-95 (and I-295) in Maine which is putting up new travel time signs, some looking similar to those in Massachusetts, courtesy of vlam557:

First is on I-295 North before Exit 11 (Bucknam Road)

Further north on I-295 after Exit 17.

This one is on I-295 South near the Falmouth Spur Exit, different from others with only 1 destination and a wider bar type VMS, one of the messages seen so far is 'No Delay'.

This one is further south on I-295 after leaving Freeport.

Now on the Maine Turnpike/I-95 North, this sign just after the I-195/Saco exit will provide times to Augusta via I-295 and I-95.

This sign a few miles further north offers travel times to Freeport on I-295.

This sign on I-95 South nearing the end of the Maine Turnpike after the York Toll Plaza provides the time to the New Hampshire border.

This photo, courtesy of WGME is of a new sign to provide times to Saco on I-95 South in Augusta.

NEW, another photo taken after Exit 19 headed south on I-95/Maine Turnpike:

Taken on 8/15/18

MassDOT placed new overhead exit signage for the new two-lane ramp for the I-295 exit in Attleboro in early 2017. The signs are a preview of what the rest of the new I-95 signage will look like after the MassDOT replacement project in 2020 (better photos without the glare from August 2018:

The exit ramp itself now has a new I-95 pull through as well as I-295 exit sign:

 

Taken on 8/21/16

An older overhead guide sign for I-95 South, with button copy shield numbers, at the Neponset Street exit in Canton. These signs are not due to be replaced until 2019:

Taken on 7/16/2016 (Updated 1/2/17):

The new exit sign for Route 2 in Lexington now with 1 destination, see old photo below:

Here's photos of the previous last set of new signs to be put up between Newton and Lexington at the MA 2 interchange where bridge construction prevented the signs at the exits from being upgraded in 2015. Here's the look at the new (and old) sign for MA 2 West on I-95 North, notice a problem?

The other signs for MA 2 West just list Fitchburg. Things are stranger with the new southbound exit sign for MA 2 East:

The destination or control city for the 1 and 1/2 mile signs is Boston, not only are there 2 destinations instead of one, but they are completely different. Apparently the sign makers just duplicated the text on the previous signs and did not take into account what was on the other signs for the exit. This was fixed in December 2016 with the sign now reading Boston (photo to come). The new overhead gantries on MA 2 may, or may not, have the old signs, they do list the previous signs control cities, however that are different from the rest of the signage put up at surrounding exits in 2014/2015. Here for I-95 South on MA 2 West:

The other signs, as seen below, list Providence, RI. For the MA 2 East exit for I-95 North, Peabody, and not Portsmouth, NH, is used as a control city:

Also, notice the interesting trailblazer for North MA 128 or should it be MA 128 North?

Previously Taken on 6/12/2016:

Photo of newly placed advance sign for MA 4/MA 225 exit on the on-ramp from US 3 South in Burlington:

This is the I-95 related signage approaching from MA 4 South/MA 225 East in Lexington, first the Jct Trailblazer:

Notice how large the 128 shield is vs. the I-95 one. Here's the corresponding Mass. Guide or paddle sign:

Ramp signage for I-95 along MA 30 East in Weston:

Taken 1/9/2016:

An update to the photo from Westwood below, MassDOT has added Guide or 'Paddle' signs to the new southbound on-ramp at the University Avenue interchange:

This image is taken at the intersection of University Ave., Blue Hill Ave. and the new on-ramp. Unlike, the trailblazers, this does mention I-93 (but not US 1 or MA 128 which also share the roadway).

The top sign only mentions I-95, not I-93 (or US 1 or MA 128). The on-ramp is no separate from Blue Hill Avenue and a noise barrier has been placed along the southbound side.

Here's the guide sign, through the glare, seen from the other direction, for the I-95 South On-Ramp (NEW taken 3/26/16):

Further down University Avenue, new guide signs have also been placed as part of the reconstruction of the street through a new retail complex, University Station. New guide signs have been placed at the University Ave./Canton St. intersection to guide people to guide southbound drivers to the Dedham St. on-ramp to I-95 South:

There are also a couple on Canton Street to direct traffic to I-95 North, which also include an I-93 shield as well:

This is only one a few guide signs that refer both to I-93 and I-95. Notice also that the I-95 destination of Dedham is different from 'Portsmouth, NH' listed at the guide signs at the interchange above.

These were the two new trailblazers set up first at the nearly completed reconstructed on-ramp to I-95 South in Westwood before more signage was added in December 2015. Going both straight or left takes you directly onto I-95. Also, notice there are no signs for US 1, Route 128 or I-93. The previous guide signs and trailblazers had both I-95, 128 and I-93 shields.

Bonus Photo, courtesy of AARoads Forum Member PHLBOS:

New on-ramp guide sign, part of the I-95 Newton to Lexington Sign Replacement Project. This will be the standard MassDOT signage (size and using mixed case lettering for destination text), replacing the iconic paddle sign, going forward.

A. Sign Replacement Project, Peabody to Georgetown (2013-2015)

This project is basically (98%) complete as of November 2015. All the overhead and ground-level signage has been installed. The only remaining work has to do with new VMS assemblies. Traveling north from the MA 128 exit in Peabody--

The first new overhead is the one mile advance sign for MA 114. The support covers both directions of the highway and supports southbound signage for the US 1 exit, see below.

There is no separate sign from MA 114 West until the exit itself:

This overhead assembly replaced one with signs that had no exit number and had the wrong directions for MA 114, listing North and South.

Here's the final new overhead for MA 114 West:

The next exit northbound is for MA 62, like for MA 114, there is no southbound exit:

You can also see a new North I-95 reassurance marker beyond the sign support. The next sign is the 1/2 mile advance for MA 62:

Just beyond is a distance sign that includes the miles to Kittery, ME. The next sign is not for MA 62:

But rather the one mile advance for the next exit for US 1. The previous US 1 sign was on an overhead panel with the MA 62 exit sign seen in the distance, and below:

It had started to rain at this point and the next few photos have some water spots on them. Here's the next sign:

More steady rain started as I approached the US 1 exit itself:

It appears the old button copy I-95 shield signage is still in place on US 1 itself beyond the gore sign. Here's the reassurance marker beyond the exit:

The rain became so heavy at this point I had to stop taking photos until I got to Exit 52 (The following were taken in January 2016):

This ground-mounted sign beyond the US 1 interchange shows the upcoming Topsfield exits, fortunately not using exit numbers which will be changing over the next 2 years.

This is the 1-Mile advance for the next exit, Endicott Road. The 1/2 mile advance can be seen in the distance and below--

And finally, the exit signage at the on-ramp to Endicott Road:

The new signage for the next exit, Topsfield Rd (which actually is in Boxford), appears right after the I-95 North Reassurance Marker:

There is also a new VMS sign on the overhead supports seen in the distance which precede the 1/2 Mile Advance sign:

Before the Topsfield Rd exit, there is a newly placed destination distance sign which appears to have a larger font than its predecessor:

Here's the exit signage as can be seen in the distance above:

A slightly better view than was taken back in September:

The rain started to lighten up and I could take photos of the next reassurance marker:

The next exit is for MA 97:

The exit is just beyond the Mile 75 mile post, meaning the future exit number should be 76. Here is the 1/2 mile advance for MA 97 South:

Again, no mention of MA 97 north until the exit itself:

This exit is used by attendees of the Topsfield Fair coming up next month. Here's the last MA 97 overhead:

The last exit covered by the signage project is for MA 133 in Georgetown. Here's the one mile advance:

Another I-95 South reassurance marker is along for the ride. Here's some other ground-level signage:

I do not know whether the Weigh Station sign is new, but the blue service sign was replaced as part of the project. Back to overheads:

The have also installed another reassurance marker beyond the on-ramp from the Weigh Station. The exit signage for MA 133:

Got a little too close for this photo. The last new overhead northbound:

I turned around here. The I-95 signage on MA 133 consisted of both a standard Mass. Guide (Paddle) Sign:

And a large ground-level BGS:

Starting back Southbound:

The first overhead has both the MA 97 1 Mile Advance Sign and a Advisory Sign for the upcoming Weigh Station.

This was quickly followed by the first new I-95 South reassurance marker. The next overhead:

Is for MA 97 North only, followed by the overhead signage at the exit:

The last MA 97 overhead heading south:

The next exit is Topsfield Road:

Beyond is a destination mileage sign with both Boston and Providence listed. I did not get a photo of the 1/2 mile advance.

The newly installed signage on Topsfield Road reflects that seen above for MA 133:

and the entrance ramp signage is just as big, even though the amount of traffic is much less at this interchange:

Another I-95 South Reassurance marker, after the Topsfield Road exit:

But here's the exit signage as it started to rain again. The following photos were retaken in January 2016:

  Here's the new rain-spot less photo of the 1/2 mile advance for Endicott Road:

This overhead is paired with a new VMS display. The final overhead for Endicott Road:

Prior to the US 1 Exit there are a pair of signs informing drivers they should stay on I-95 to get to Route 128:

The next exit is for US 1 which features different text than the northbound exit signs:

Here's the 1/2 Mile Advance:

The exit signage is accompanied by a pull through for I-95 South:

Which includes the first notice about the upcoming MA 128 exit. The next reassurance marker, back in September:

And the 1 Mile advance signage for the next exit southbound, Centre Street in Danvers:

Followed by the 1/2 Mile advance:

Here's one of the large text destination mileage signs as seen in the distance above:

Interesting to know Boston is exactly 50 miles from Providence, based on this sign anyway. The last Centre Street overhead:

Here's the last new I-95 South reassurance marker:

The next exit is for US 1, most of the diagrammatic signs for this exit were replaced a couple years ago. Here's one example of these signs, there is a US 1 shield there somewhere:

The last new sign is at the US 1 South exit ramp:

The overhead sign on the left replaced a sign referred to having a 'Top Hat' design for the I-95 and 128 shields were in a smaller panel placed above the wider rest of the sign with the control cities.

B. Sign Replacement Project, Newton to Lexington (2012-2015)

Most Recent Photos, Taken September 10, 2015

Work has officially been completed on this project as of late July. The project page, though, says that a some punch list items, most likely the still to be installed overhead signs at the MA 2 bridge under construction (see below), remain. All the remaining route shield trailblazers and reassurance markers have been added and older route signs have been removed. Here are a couple more reassurance markers north of MA 2:

 This has a large MA 128 shield, and appears to be too close to the auxiliary sign for Hanscom Field.

The next set of reassurance markers--

Features a smaller MA 128 shield, I did not get to travel southbound to see if this pattern is repeated in the other direction.

Previous Photos, Taken July 5, 2015

Here's the first new reassurance markers northbound following the MA 9 exit:

Project specs are following those of the latest re-signing project, I-93 in Boston in having directional banners for both route shields, not like the last I-95 resigning project from Lexington to Woburn where only one was used. There seems to have been no attempt at cutting down foliage to better the view of the new signs, as this next assembly at the I-90/Mass Pike exit proves:

New trailblazers have also been put up along the Mass Pike/MA 30 off-ramp from I-95 North. Here is the first:

Complicating factors, besides the foliage, is the lack of removal of the previously existing MA 128 sign. The next trailblazer is easier to see:

They have also added an auxiliary MA 128 North sign approaching the split between the MA 30 exit and I-95 North on-ramp:

The next reassurance assembly northbound is beyond the MA 30 on-ramp:

There was also a new reassurance marker assembly following the US 20 exit:

There was also another one after the Totten Pond Road interchange, however it was not clearly visible due to foliage. I did not venture farther north than MA 2 (Exit 29) to see if there were any additional new markers. I did confirm though that this sign, on the MA 2 bridge, is the last old overhead sign remaining in the project area:

I left I-95 heading west on MA 2 to check out the reconstruction project at Crosby's Corner. Photos are on my Misc. Mass. Highway Photos Page.

Heading southbound from MA 2A in Lexington the first new reassurance marker was found just after the merge:

Another new one was also posted after the Trapelo Road interchange in Waltham:

Plant vegetation not as much an issue here as with the next blue service sign. They have also installed a new marker beyond the Winter Street/Totten Pond Road interchange:

As they have also placed one after the US 20 exit, though there is some foliage issues with this one:

The next marker, beyond the I-90/Mass Pike exit is different than all the rest...

Sporting a smaller MA 128 shield than the others. However, it's back to the larger shield for the last new marker southbound beyond the MA16 exit in Newton:

I also took some new photos of overhead signage along the Add-A-Lane Project section below.

Previous Photos (Taken May 9, 2015)

The last set of signs to go up for the I-90/Mass Pike and MA 30 Exit were the 1 mile advance signs prior to the MA 16 exit. The other new signs to be placed since my last visit are this overhead auxiliary sign:

The 1/2 mile advance sign at the MA 16 Exit:

 

And those along the long Exit 23-24-25 ramp from I-95/128 North (the original alignment of 128 prior to the Mass Pike being built)--

There is was also new signage at the I-90 Off-ramp (including 'newish' for Logan Airport)--

The last set of signs feature an interesting arrow for the I-95 On-Ramp:

There were also two new advance signs for the US 20 exit: 

Both for the 1 Mile and for the 1/2 mile, both with truck restriction regulatory signs on the left:

Another overhead sign placed since my last visit was the 1 and 1/4 Mile advance for Totten Pond Road--

A new ground-mounted distance signs now features distances to MA 2 and Portsmouth, NH:

A solitary small 1/2 Mile advance sign for Trapelo Road sits on this overhead gantry northbound:

The last set of new signs northbound are advances for the MA 2 exit, here's the one mile at Trapelo Road--

And here's the 1/2 mile advance sign for MA 2 East:

And the final overhead has the exit signage for MA 2 and the advance for MA 2A:

The only sign not replaced northbound can be seen in the distance, at the ramp to MA 2 West. This is mounted on the MA 2 bridge currently under construction and a replacement may not go up until work is completed.

The only other new sign northbound was another distance sign following the MA 2 Exit, in this instance Portsmouth, NH has been replaced by Salisbury:

Heading back south, an additional 1 Mile advance sign has been placed on the ramp from US 3 South to I-95 South:

There has also been a new 1/2 Mile advance put up since my last trip through:

The temporary ground level signage still remains though. Here's the signage at the interchange:

And here's another photo of the Exit 31A ramp signage, this time with the old sign removed:

Again, at the MA 2 interchange there is a still an old bridge-mounted sign for MA 2 East, possibly also not placed due to bridge construction. One of the few remaining new overheads not photographed southbound is for the MA 16 / Grove St exits, immediately after the I-90 on-ramp:

The other is the 1/2 mile advance for the MA 16 East and Ramp exits for MA 16 West:

The last new overhead is the 1/2 mile advance for MA 9 West (the Exit 20 tab for the previous 1 Mile Advance sign has not been fixed yet to properly display Exit 20A/B)--

The project was listed as 88% complete at the end of March, and is still set to be completed this summer.

PREVIOUS PHOTOS (Taken November 15, 2014)

One of the overhead signs that has been installed since I last traveled through, the one mile advance for MA 2A and the only remaining service plaza on North I-95/128.

This is the signage at the exit ramp, beyond it you can see a new overhead gantry crossing the both sides of the highway, this replaces one which had an old I-95 pull through sign with Peabody and NH-Maine as the control cities.

The sign gantry is only used for the signs along the C/D lanes northbound, not for any signs on I-95 either north or southbound. The MA 2A West exit sign in the distance had been replaced in 2013, see link, below.

These signs were placed earlier in the year for the MA 4/MA 225 exit, where I turned around, as you can see from the mile marker, this should be Exit 49 when under the future mile post number system.

This appears to be the standard sign set up at on-ramps along this section of I-95. A trailblazer for Route 128 and a ground mounted sign for I-95, Providence, RI for South, Portsmouth, NH for North:

Here's a closer look at the I-95 ramp sign:

Looking at new signage southbound, there are new overheads at the MA 2 and MA 2A exits, some harder to see due to the sun angle, unfortunately:

While the advance signs had been replaced earlier this year, these exit signs are of more recent vintage. As are these at the MA 2A East ramp:

The next set of advance signs for MA were also put up earlier in the project, these were new, however:

The sign gantry here also crosses both directions of the highway and includes a 1 Mile advance for the next exit, Trapelo Road. The MA 2 East exit sign has not been replaced.

 

The next new overhead, is the 1/2 mile advance for Trapelo Road, the signage at the exit ramp is similar to MA 2A (image updated 7/5/15):

In that the gantry also has an advance sign for the next exit, here for Winter Street/Totten Pond Road. The remaining Exit 27 signs were put up earlier under the current sign contract, or the contract that rebuilt the bridge over I-95 at the interchange. There were no new signs to report until the US 20 exit (replaced by better photo from 5/9/15):

Here the US 20 exit sign is paired with a I-90/Mass Pike 2 Mile advance sign. The previous sign is still up and can be seen on the bridge in the distance. The next new I-90 sign is paired again:

This time with the MA 30 advance sign, this pairing continues until the I-90/Mass Pike exit:

The next assembly pairs MA 30 with the next set of exits for MA 16:

Plus throw in signage for the only southbound service plaza as well. There is another new set of MA 16 overheads as well:

The last new sign southbound is the first advance for MA 9:

The Exit Tab is supposed to read 'Exit 20 AB' according to a MassDOT sign engineer, no word on when the sign will be revised. The project was 80% complete as of the end of first week in November. The contract is supposed to be complete by this winter.

To see photos taken earlier this year along I-95, visit this post on the Sure, Why Not Blog.

Taken in October 2013--

New cantilever overhead was installed for the 1 Mile Advance sign on I-95/128 North just after the MA 9 Exit.

Another new overhead had appeared for the Grove St exit. The previous sign had text for the MBTA Station, this is now on a separate auxiliary sign installed between the sign above and that below. Will try to get photo next time through.

Image of second new overhead for Grove St, the new Mass Pike signage in the distance, closer view below, and one of MassDOTs new 'Real Time Traffic' VMS signs. 

The new overhead cantilever sign for the I-90 Mass Pike exit has a logo instead of text for the Turnpike, a yellow Toll Road banner, but like its predecessor sign, no mention of what Exit 23 is for, Recreation Rd, nor an 'Exit Only' banner needed after MassDOT reconfigured the interchange a couple months earlier.

While new overheads have not been installed along the off-ramp for the Mass Pike/MA 30 exit, new ground-mounted auxiliary signs for North I-95 have. 

The last new overhead exit sign northbound at this time was for the US 20 Exit in Waltham, there also reconstructing the interchange along US 20 and installing new signage as well with this ongoing project.

New signage along I-95 South near the Mass Pike exit was limited to ground-mounted auxiliary signage such as the above indicating you can reach Worcester heading west along with Albany, NY.

If you're curious, the next sign replacement project for I-95 is No. 608204, which will upgrade the signs from the RI Border to current Exit 11 in Canton, this project is not set to start though until the Fall of 2018.

B. I-95 Add-A-Lane Project Canton to Needham (Photos Taken 2010-2018)

Taken along the Dedham - Needham Stretch, between Exits 15 and 20, between 2014 and 2018

This MassDOT diagram details the work completed in the Needham section and the ramps referred to below:

MassDOT has stated on its Add-A Lane Project Page that there are only punch list items left to be completed and that it will no longer update the site after October 12, 2018. Therefore, the project is largely finished.

Completed Project Photos Taken October 28, 2018:

All work except for landscaping and a few punch list items remain to be completed by the spring of 2019. All traffic lanes are open and in their final configuration. Starting northbound:

Traffic about to enter the final section of the Add-A-Lane Project work zone. Signs indicating the former lane drop have been removed.

A new post-interchange distance sign marks the final step in completion of this section of I-95 North approaching Kendrick Street.

One of the remaining punch list items is adding logos to these still blank blue services signs prior to the Kendrick Street exit.

Four lanes of traffic travel under VMS sign gantry, this sign has not been activated yet.

Approaching the Kendrick Street bridge. The Exit only arrow on the Highland Avenue exit sign now points to an open lane.

With all lanes of traffic open construction barrels and temporary signage has been removed approaching Highland Avenue.

New right lane parallels C/D ramp from Kendrick Street to Highland Avenue.

Both four lanes of traffic and C/D lanes head under Highland Avenue Bridge.

View after Highland Avenue prior to the merge from the northern C/D lanes.

The first of 2 new North I-95/Route 128 reassurance markers after the on-ramp for Highland Avenue. All the new markers feature large 128 shields.

Between the Highland Avenue on-ramp and the Route 9 East exit there is an auxiliary travel lane that allows traffic just traveling between those two points to not have to merge with through traffic.

Looking downhill at the Route 9 interchange, though the auxiliary lane ends at the exit ramp, given its presence on the previous sign, should there be an Exit Only sign here too?

The completed bridge over Route 9 and the completed westbound exit in Wellesley.

The second I-95/Route 128 North reassurance marker near the northern end of the Add-A-Lane Project limits after the Route 9 on-ramp.

The end of the Add-A-Lane Project limits northbound, the North I-95 reassurance marker is now an extra, and missing a 128 shield.

Turning around in Wellesley:

 

The completed sound wall parallels four lanes of I-95/Route 128 South approaching the Route 9 interchange.

The now completed exit ramp to Route 9 West, the 1-Mile Advance sign (see photo below) still has only Exit 20, no A or B suffixes.

The 1-Mile Advance sign for Highland Avenue precedes the completed 4-lane bridge over Route 9.

For the first time there is no longer a lane drop at the Route 9 East exit, confirming that the Add-A-Lane Project is complete from Wellesley to Randolph. (But notice there is an Exit Only tab here, though the exit ramp lane only starts at the bridge. A holdover from when the lanes went for 4 to 3?)

The first of two new South I-95/Route 128 reassurance markers, again with the big 128 shield, after the Route 9 on-ramp just over the line in Needham (no town line sign here, another to-do punch list item?)

The completed noise wall parallels the new auxiliary lane between the Route 9 on-ramp and Highland Avenue/Kendrick Street exit in Needham.

The auxiliary lane ends at the exit ramp to Highland Avenue and Kendrick Street, an Exit Only tab is placed here on the right side of the overhead sign.

Four lanes of traffic head southbound paralleling Highland Avenue/Kendrick Street C/D lanes.

Southbound traffic using 4 lanes going under Highland Avenue bridge. The exit ramp sign on Highland Avenue westbound seen on the right only uses Dedham as the only control city, not Canton with Providence, RI as with the signs on Route 9.

Completed noise walls parallel the C/D ramp to Kendrick Street southbound after the Highland Avenue bridge.

Approaching the on-ramp from the Highland Avenue C/D lanes with Kendrick Street bridge in distance.

Five lanes of traffic now are open under the Kendrick Street bridge counting the on-ramp from Highland Avenue.

Southbound roadway with 4 open lanes approaching Kendrick Street on-ramp.

The last new southbound reassurance marker, also with a large Route 128 shield. The mile markers, like that in the distance, have not yet been continued to the other completed sections of the Add-A-Lane Project. Another punch list item?

Four lanes of traffic passing the Real Time Traffic sign heading toward the southern end of the Project limits.

Heading for the last curve in the project just after the 1 Mile Advance overhead for Great Plain Avenue.

New guardrail and a structure housing solar power equipment mark the southern end of the last work zone in the Add-A-Lane Project.

Prior Photos Taken on September 16, 2018:

Work has almost wrapped up along the I-95/128 mainline. Final friction course paving has taken place and MassDOT says final lane striping is to take place during the week of September 17. All travel lanes were open, despite the still presence of right lane closed signs northbound, on my drive through the work zone on September 16. Starting at the beginning of the work zone northbound:

Barrels blocking the new right lane had been moved back to the shoulder allowing traffic to use it, if they want to, not many cars were using it prior to Kendrick Street.

In addition to the final paving and installation of lane reflectors in the pavement, logos have been added to the service signs prior to the Kendrick Street exit.

Construction barrels moved to the side allowing traffic in 4 travel lanes prior to on-ramp from Kendrick Street.

Orange barrels are completely gone from northbound lanes just after the Highland Avenue bridge.

Paving has also been completed along the future auxiliary lane between Highland Avenue and Route 9 but, though it may not appear so, access is blocked off by construction barrels.

Barrels seen here preventing use of the auxiliary lane, guardrail work in this area has also been completed.

The open four travel lanes continue to the end of the project work zone as traffic can use the auxiliary lane to enter the Route 9 East ramp.

The final photo northbound show paving has been completed on the Route 9 bridge at the northern end of the project work zone. Heading back south:

This photo shows the culmination of the long-time Add-A-Lane project, that there is no more lane drop at the Route 9 East ramp heading south in Wellesley.

The future auxiliary lane from Route 9 to Highland Avenue is also blocked off from traffic.

Traffic still has to negotiate around the construction barrels to access the Highland Avenue ramp, work on the guardrails and noise wall is complete.

Construction barrels here pushed to the shoulder barrier to allow for 4 lanes of travel paralleling the C/D ramp from Highland Avenue.

View of the open 4-lanes for traffic approaching the on-ramp from Highland Avenue.

Temporary lines painted beyond the Highland Avenue ramp merge still reflect earlier traffic pattern of 3 lanes of traffic under the Kendrick Street bridge, with traffic ignoring them and using the right lane.

Construction barrels still on shoulder approaching on-ramp from Kendrick Street.

Four lanes of traffic proceed towards the end of the Add-A-Lane Project work zone, barrels along shoulder for use in final lane striping.

Four lanes of traffic pass by now obsolete Authorized Breakdown Lane Travel Times sign.

View from the new fourth lane approaching the southern end of the last Add-A-Lane Project work zone.

Previous Photo taken on August 26, 2018:

View looking northbound after Highland Avenue at recently repaved section, supposedly the second to last paving, with barrels blocking the future right shoulder (this was not the case for the roadway prior to Highland Avenue, where traffic could have used all the four lanes.

Previous Photos from July 27, 2018:

Things are slowly moving toward completion along the entire project area (officially the work won't wrap up until next Spring):

Another pavement layer and traffic moved back left to occupy the original 3 lanes prior to Kendrick Street, some barrels in the right shoulder suggest more work needed.

Work though has been completed along the shoulder just prior to the Kendrick Street off-ramp.

Some raised casting work remains to be complete and are marked by construction barrels at the Kendrick Street off-ramp.

Future right lane now marked again as right shoulder at Highland Avenue exits off-ramp, notice plate identifying cross street now on bridge.

Additional raised castings identified by construction barrels at and just after Kendrick Street on-ramp.

Some left shoulder as well as right shoulder work remains just north of the Highland Avenue bridge.

Lane striping for the left shoulder ends at the on-ramp from Highland Avenue.

Right shoulder work remains to be completed, along with left shoulder line painting at top of hill heading toward the Route 9 exits.

With the exception of the left shoulder line painting, the road looks complete just prior to the Route 9 East exit.

Looks like the bridge over Route 9 still needs at least one more pavement coat at northern end of project.  Heading onto Route 9...

Permanent overhead signage has been placed at the new on-ramps to I-95/128. This heading eastbound.

The I-95 left-hand ramp signage can be seen in the distance as I am exiting onto the southbound ramp (backed up to work at the ramp merge).

Single lanes from MA 9 West and East merge into 1 lane heading up the on-ramp. Completed noise walls along the ramp can be seen in the distance.

More work is needed at the ramp merge. Traffic from Route 9 is still separated from I-95 South entering Needham, the noise walls though look complete.

The current alignment of the on-ramp gives you a close up view of the new rock cut along the hill between Route 9 and Highland Avenue.

The noise wall along what will be the two auxiliary lanes (the right most still needing another layer of pavement) between Route 9 and Highland Avenue appears to be complete.

Additional shoulder work taking place alongside the barrier between I-95/128 South and the Highland Avenue/Kendrick Street C/D lanes.

Closeup of the street and town name plate sign on the Kendrick Street bridge.

A new distance sign has been put up using Dedham instead of Canton (perhaps because that town is featured in the upcoming Real Time distance sign 1/2 mile further south). Understand Providence since its featured on pull through and on-ramp signage, but why also Attleboro(ugh)? Due to the interchange with I-295?

 

The remaining part of the work zone to the railroad bridge only appears to need line painting, and perhaps another layer of pavement.

Previous photos from June 21:

Some significant progress to report after 3 weeks between Great Plain and Highland Avenues:

The orange warning sign at the start of the Project work zone has been changed from indicating the right lane ends to advising traffic about a lane shift ahead.

Traffic has been shifted to use the new right fourth lane between the start of construction and Kendrick Street, the left lane is now closed so final work can be done in the median area. Also the first mile marker in this direction (no new markers have been put up in the completed areas of the Add-A-Lane Project work zone).

After Highland Avenue work has been continuing this week to place new pavement along the northbound lanes, as you can see there has been a recent lane shift after the pavement was placed for the right 2 lanes.

New pavement is missing from the left lane and shoulder between Highland Avenue to just before the Route 9 East exit.

Work has been completed in installing guardrail and placing the noise wall along the northbound lanes prior to Route 9.

New pavement not yet placed, work continues in the left median though work on the bridge ahead appears largely complete (also notice the SUV on the right using the yet to officially open right lane).

The only construction barrels left are beyond the bridge and at the exit ramp to Route 9 West.  Turning around and heading south...

Work is still proceeding approaching the Route 9 interchange, while the lane is still marked as 'Exit Only' this is only true for the Route 9 east ramp.

Work was still proceeding along the westbound Route 9 off-ramp with posts for guardrails being placed.

Still temporary barriers and orange barrels in place southbound traveling over the Route 9 bridge.

The noise walls appear complete along the Route 9 on-ramp at the Wellesley/Needham border. Work needed to pave this section of highway, especially between the southbound lanes and the on-ramp.

Paving has also started approaching Highland Avenue southbound, the change in elevation between the newly paved and existing lanes makes changing lanes difficult. There is nothing new to report between Highland Avenue and the end of the project southbound.

Previous Photos Taken on June 2, 2018:

Project is wrapping up between Great Plain Avenue and Highland Avenue and is getting closer between Highland and Route 9:

Final pavement and lane markers are now in place south of Kendrick Street on I-95/128 North. Hopefully, the new additional right lane will be opened once the paving is completed to Highland Avenue.

The lane markings are complete up to the Kendrick Street exit.

The shoulder still needs paving beyond the Kendrick Street off-ramp.

The new lane and shoulder still need final paving approaching the Kendrick Street exit on-ramp, you also notice a new 2/10 mile marker, these are now up, mostly, in the work zone in both directions, they have not been, as of yet extended further south to the completed  Add-A-Lane Project area.

Further final paving still required on the right approaching the Highland Avenue bridge.

The view beyond Highland Avenue showing completion of right shoulder barrier and the addition of guardrail heading toward Route 9, noise wall along southbound lanes is almost complete. Turning around...

The reassurance marker that was where the noise wall now is has been replaced further north approaching the Route 9 exit (the westbound exit closed this weekend for repaving).

With the temporary barrier separating Route 9 traffic from I-95/128 South, vehicles can now access the east exit directly (work on completing the westbound ramp is to have been completed by Sunday, June 3). Also notice the near completed noise walls along the Route 9 on-ramp.

A closer look at the completed noise wall and the new 2/10 mile marker along the Route 9 on-ramp heading into Needham.

Final paving is still underway beyond Highland Avenue.

The right shoulder awaits final paving between Highland Avenue and Kendrick Street.

The right shoulder and on-ramp await final paving approaching Kendrick Street. Also another new 2/10 mile marker.

Final paving appears complete beyond the Kendrick Street bridge at Mile 35.

The completed final pavement lanes continue past the Kendrick Street on-ramp.

Since there are no formal lane markings on the new pavement, some traffic entering southbound from Kendrick Street were using the unofficially open new right lane (then tried to jump back into my lane when the new pavement disappeared and the solid line reappeared marking the lane as the shoulder, not a traffic lane).

Previous Photos. Taken on April 20, 2018:

Some progress to report, especially with the removal of most of the temporary shoulder barriers heading northbound:

Barriers have been removed most of the distance between the southern end of the Project work zone and Kendrick Street:

Along the newly open shoulders are blue service signs waiting to be filled in:

The shoulders are without barriers almost to the Kendrick Street exit:

Views taken along the ramp from Kendrick Street to I-95/128 North, previously not photographed:

North of Kendrick Street the concrete barriers along the future shoulder are also gone, but they are replaced by orange barrels.

The view beyond Highland Avenue shows barriers removed here also:

The barrier removal continues north to the Highland Avenue on-ramp, though here moved besides the permanent ramp barrier.

Meanwhile, new lane construction continues along the southbound side next to the future noise wall:

Noise walls are near completion northbound approaching the Route 9 interchange:

Finally, a look toward the Route 9 interchange with  barrels replacing barriers along the center median:

Earlier Photos Taken on February 17, 2018:

Another drive to check out I-90 signage, nothing new to report. Some progress to report though on I-95. First northbound at Kendrick Street:

It appears the guardrail work is complete prior to Kendrick Street, but that there is still more shoulder work to be completed:

Nothing new between Kenrick Street and Highland Avenue so picking up after Highland Avenue Bridge:

Work is continuing building the new northbound lane prior to the merge with the Highland Avenue C/D ramp which will add an additional lane to Route 9.

Both temporary and permanent barriers separate Highland Avenue on-ramp traffic from I-95/128 North prior to the merge ahead.

Future permanent barrier pieces stacked on top of one another in future right lanes between Highland Avenue and Route 9.

Work continues on constructing noise barrier walls along both sides of I-95/128 approaching Route 9.

Noise barrier walls have been completed prior to the Route 9 East exit. The final traffic configuration over Route 9 is starting to appear in the distance.

Temporary barrier still blocks off future left lane for I-95/128 South over Route 9 in Wellesley. 

Heading Southbound:

The sound wall is now almost completely up between Routes 16 and 9.

A few panels still need to be placed by the 1/2 Mile sign for Route 9 West, but its completed the rest of the way to the exit.

Still only temporary signage in place for exit only ramp to Route 9.

Work is proceeding to grade the area surrounding the new bridge and the location of the former Route 9 West on-ramp.

Work is proceeding south of the new bridge both on the new lanes and the noise walls along the Route 9 on-ramp.

A concrete culvert awaits placement in the future southbound lanes after crossing the town line into Needham.

It appears all the noise wall supports are in place between Route 9 and Highland Avenue.

Guardrails have now been placed along the future lanes toward the Highland Avenue C/D lanes.

Roadwork is largely complete after the Highland Avenue C/D lane off-ramp. Construction equipment and remaining dirt piles are in place at site of former Highland Avenue bridge.

Closeup view of contractor office trailer and construction equipment at site of old Highland Avenue bridge.

All the work needed here prior to the Kendrick Street bridge is to remove the temporary barrier and re-stripe the roadway for 4 lanes and a shoulder.

Earlier Photos Taken on January 15, 2018:

Took a drive to check out new Mass. Pike Signage (see I-90 in Mass. Photo Gallery) which necessitated driving through the Add-A-Lane Project work zone. Not much new to report northbound:

There is still work to do to completed the new shoulders between Great Plain Avenue and Kendrick Street. Heading back southbound though is more interesting:

Noise wall work continues approaching the Route 9 interchange which the text on the right lane pavement hints at a new traffic configuration.

As the sign says, traffic exiting must now use the right lane while southbound through traffic stays to the left.

Three lanes to the left of the exit ramp head toward the new southbound bridge while work continues on the noise wall to the right.

View after the exit ramp, notice the temporary Route 9 East exit sign has been moved across the highway and the arrow switched in direction.

Crossing over the new bridge, temporary barriers to the right separate the mainline from the Route 9 exit ramp traffic.

Still on the new bridge. Work continues in creating the new lanes beyond the East Route 9 exit ramp.

Besides new lane construction, noise wall installation continues along Route 9 on-ramp to I-95/128 South entering Needham.

Closeup view of the southbound rock cut need to complete the 2 new lanes (1 mainline, 1 auxiliary) between Route 9 and Highland Avenue.

The noise wall will accompany the new lanes from the top of the hill to Highland Avenue.

New guardrail is being installed along the future auxiliary lane as you are heading toward the Highland Avenue/Kendrick Street exit.

The new guardrail extends as far as the start of the C/D ramp for the Highland Avenue exits.

Temporary concrete barriers stand in front of the permanent taller structure separating the C/D lanes from I-95/128 South traffic by Highland Avenue.

Piles of dirt and construction equipment remain between ramps to Highland Avenue near site of former bridge.

Largely completed section of I-95 South paralleling C/D ramp to Kendrick Street with temporary concrete barrier in future shoulder area.

A look at the C/D ramp signage from I-95 South prior to on-ramp from the Highland Avenue exits.

I-95 traffic just prior to on-ramp from C/D lanes, yellow sign on temporary barrier warns drivers breakdown lane in use during rush hour (practice to be stopped after project is completed).

Traffic merging onto South I-95/128 from Highland Avenue exit C/D ramp just prior to Kendrick Street bridge.

New guardrail is also being placed along future right shoulder beyond Kendrick Street.Work was to be completed by the end of 2017 but was delayed by the winter weather.

The end of the guardrail approaching the southern end of the Project work zone. It will be interesting to see if all lanes south of Kendrick Street are to be opened when shoulder work in both directions is completed.

Earlier photos from December 3, 2017:

Took a drive to check out the newly opened C/D ramp southbound to Kendrick Street and the new Kendrick Street ramp to I-95/128 North:

First, northbound approaching Kendrick Street, new guardrail has been placed along the right shoulder from the start of the work zone almost to the Kendrick Street ramp.

The remaining new guardrail to Kendrick Street is to be put up the week of December 4-8, according to MassDOT.

View of the now open ramp from Kendrick Street, plan to drive it during the next trip to Needham, temporary barriers in place in front of future right shoulder.

A temporary merging traffic advisory sign is place in the temporary barrier prior to the new ramp entering I-95, saw no cars using the ramp.

Here's the view from Kendrick St heading toward the new North ramp. Instead of replacing the existing South I-95 sign with one having both directions, they have installed a new I-95 North further to the west.

A small I-95 North guide sign was added, without a destination, to the existing I-95 South ramp overhead sign, and as can be seen in the distance...

The ramp sign has both an I-95 and Route 128 shield. The contractor must consider this to be a trailblazer type of sign since the FHWA has prohibited MassDOT from placing 128 shields on guide signs.

Heading back onto I-95/128 North:

Large dirt mounds, and perhaps a permanent berm, no covered with grass, still mark the Highland Avenue interchange area, temporary barrier still in place despite permanent concrete barrier now complete along C/D lanes.

Another look at the new overhead signage for both I-95/128 North for Route 9 and the C/D lane for Highland Avenue West, this time from the mainline.

Approaching the new on-ramp from Highland Avenue on I-95 North, new ramp barrier is in place, along with temporary barrier in future right shoulder area.

Continued construction can be seen in both future new lane areas, north and southbound, including supports fora noise wall that continues southbound from the Route 9 ramp.

Work continues in building the right shoulder barrier walls heading toward the Route 9 interchange.

Both shoulder barrier and drainage work continues approaching the top of the hill before the Route 9 interchange.

Work continues just before the Route 9 East ramp on new noise walls south of the excavated rock wall approaching Wellesley.

Heading back south, and, unfortunately, into the low December sun:

Work continues installing noise wall supports south of the Route16 exit up to Route 9. The South I-95/128 reassurance marker that was behind the wall posts has been (temporarily?) removed.

The wall posts continue past the still existing traffic shift for Route 9 bridge construction.

The support posts continue past the last warning sign about the upcoming lane split.

A new overhead gantry holds new signs for the Route 9 exit, temporary signs also still standing (the 1-Mile advance sign for the exit still incorrectly refers to it as Exit 20, with no added letters).

An attempt to capture the new concrete deck on the future southbound bridge over Route 9.

Work continues along the right shoulder after the Route 9 bridges, along with noise walls along the Route 9 on-ramp.

A new overhead 1/2 mile advance sign has been placed at the merge of the two traffic streams beyond the Route 9 on-ramp.

The new off-ramp for the Southbound C/D lanes at Highland Avenue is still marked with a temporary sign (and some confusion as noted by the driver just ahead of me.

A view of the previously placed C/D ramp signage for Highland Avenue from the ramp itself.

The other 2-sign cantilever overhead signs on the C/D ramp, now with Kendrick Street uncovered after the ramp was opened on December 1.

Proceeding along the C/D ramp past the exit for Highland Avenue East, now Exit 19B.

The split of the C/D ramp returning to I-95/128 South and the new Kendrick Street off-ramp is marked by these overhead signs.

Taking the newly opened off-ramp to Kendrick Street.

The off-ramp ends in a traffic signal which allows vehicles to proceed back onto the I-95 South on-ramp.

The guide signs along Kendrick Street to the west of I-95 that only refer to the I-95 South ramp because there is no access to the northbound ramp in this direction.

There is a South Route 128 trailblazer approaching the I-95 South ramp on Kendrick Street heading east.

Entering I-95/128 South from the Kendrick Street ramp, merge is easier now with temporary barriers gone along the shoulder prior to the ramp.

Guardrail work has not started along the shoulder south of Kendrick Street, though drainage work may be complete.

The southern end of the work zone looking similar to the last time through in October.

Previous Photos from October 28, 2017:

Another drive northbound after part of the new C/D ramps between Kendrick Street and Highland Avenue were opened:

With the opening of the new ramp, the exit numbers have been changed with an A added to the Kendrick Street sign and B and C applied to Highland Avenue starting with the 1 Mile advance sign for new Exit 19A. This is also true for the remainder of the advance signs:

Work continues meanwhile on the right shoulder, separated by a temporary barrier. The signage at Kendrick Street itself:

The new Exit 19A gore sign at the Kendrick Street ramp:

This portable VMS warns drivers of the new, earlier Highland Avenue exit ramp. Apparently, there was no publicity, except through entries on the MassDOT website, to drivers and local businesses of the exit number change:

A closer view of the new Highland Avenue exit sign taken accessing the newly opened ramp:

The view on the new ramp with the Trip Advisor Headquarters building to the right:

The overhead signs for the Highland Avenue ramps as seen from the opened C/D ramp:

The last Highland Avenue exit sign and a newly placed Route 9 advance sign prior to the bridge:

The new Exit 19 C gore sign:

Proceeding along the C/D ramp back to I-95 North with concrete barrier separating traffic from future breakdown lane:

Traffic from both Highland Avenue ramps merges into one lane before entering I-95/128:

About to enter the mainline with the end of the temporary barrier to the left:

Entering I-95/128 through gap in temporary right-side barrier allows view of progress building new lanes between Highland Avenue and Route 9:

Another view of new Route 9 exit sign and construction progress in starting to build right shoulder barrier between Highland Avenue and Route 9:

Meanwhile, work on the new southbound sound walls continues on the other side of the highway:

This is a new advance sign for the Route 9 East exit that has appeared in the last week next to new sound wall supports beyond the right shoulder:

These are the last new overheads put up at the MA 9 West exit ramp. It appears if all the new signage has now been placed northbound:

Earlier Photos Taken on October 14, 2017:

Drove northbound through the work zone and spotted several new overhead signs:

New overhead signs for Highland Avenue can be spotted across from C/D lanes from Kendrick Street.

A closer view of the signs. MassDOT has recently started the practice of placing 2 signs on one cantilever gantry. The signs still have the A and B suffixes that will be changed when the entire ramp system from Kendrick Street to Highland Avenue is opened.

One of the steel girders for the westbound Highland Avenue bridge is being stored temporarily in the future C/D lane between Highland Avenue exit ramps.

Permanent concrete barriers are being placed to separate the I-95 North through traffic from that heading for Highland Avenue West prior to the eastbound bridge.

View of construction progress after Highland Avenue with new southbound and a new northbound sign being seen in the distance.

The new sign for MA 9 East is getting closer, while continued work on the noise walls along the southbound lanes continues.

A closeup view of the new sign on the other side of the barrier where workers are separated from traffic as the new lanes are being built.

The last set of new overheads are prior to the Route 9 East off-ramp. Support posts for future signs at the West off-ramp can be seen in the distance. I presume there will be auxiliary signs for Newton and Wellesley not listed on the overheads.

Previous photos taken on September 17, 2017:

Mostly related to new overhead signage placed in early September. First northbound:

New signs have now been placed on the existing northbound gantries for the Highland Avenue exits, the 1 1/2 miles refers to the current ramp for the eastbound exit.

The second new sign, notice the distance only reduces 1/4 mile for Highland Avenue while it reduced 1/2 mile for Kendrick Street. I'm assuming this is for the final exit ramp for both currently separate Highland Avenue exits which will be reached through a C/D ramp prior to the existing exits. Also the A and B suffixes will be changed when work is completed so Kendrick Street will be Exit 19A and the Highland Avenue exits will be Exits 19B and C.

The new overhead for Highland Avenue at the Kendrick Street ramp reads 3/4 mile, continuing the distance from the second advance sign.

The final new sign for Highland Avenue, prior to the Kendrick Street bridge, will be at the future single Highland Avenue exit ramp, MassDOT didn't temporarily place distances on it since due to the current 2 different exit ramp set-up.

Approaching the current Highland Avenue East ramp, the sign indicating permitted breakdown lane use now placed beyond permanent barrier that will separate I-95/Route 128 North traffic from those entering on ramp from Kendrick Street. Sign will no longer be necessary can be removed when fourth lane is opened. The permanent Exit 19 (B) gore sign can also be seen behind the current Exit 19A sign.

The permanent Exit 19 (C) gore sign can be seen behind the current Exit 19B sign at the current ramp to Highland Avenue West beyond site of future westbound bridge.

Work continues on building the additional lanes beyond Highland Avenue heading toward the Route 9 exit.

Heading toward Route 9 exit at former lane-split, work is proceeding on supports for noise walls along both directions of the highway.

Heading down toward Route 9 and Wellesley work is proceeding on completing the bridges seen in the distance.

Traveling over the new bridge over Route 9, the sign indicating the end of authorized breakdown is tacked below the temporary Route 9 West sign.

Heading back Southbound:

The view traveling on the through lanes of the split traffic pattern prior to the Route 9 exit, equipment being used to build the new southbound bridge to the right.

Beyond the Route 9 bridge, work is proceeding to grade the new right lane prior to the merge at the end of the lane-split heading toward Highland Avenue.

New overhead sign for Highland Avenue has been placed. The bottom is covered over since it refers to Kendrick Street, the blank space in the exit tab is for a Future C, which will be for the Highland Avenue West ramp, currently Exit 19B.

Overhead signage has also been placed along future C/D ramp from I-95 / Route 128 South for Highland Avenue, including a future Exit 19 (C) gore sign.

A temporary sign directs I-95 South traffic to the current Highland Avenue East off-ramp at site of current on-ramp from Highland Avenue West. Covered over sign is for Kendrick Street.

Current Exit 19A ramp gore sign in front of future Exit 19(B) sign for Highland Avenue East exit in Needham.

The noise wall has neared completion between Highland Avenue and Kendrick Street along the future off-ramp.

A temporary barrier has been moved over the future right shoulder to complete drainage work along the stretch between Kendrick Street and the end of the work zone.

Work continues to replace the construction barrels with concrete barriers for shoulder work at the southern end of the Project work zone.

Earlier photos taken on August 27, 2017:

Taken in both directions, first northbound:

At the start of the work zone. The big news is that the new left lane is now open, there are still 3 lanes open however, since work has moved to the right shoulder.

Another view approaching Kendrick Street, work on the right is proceeding behind a barrier.

Drainage culverts and pipes await installation along the right shoulder approaching the Kendrick Street exit ramp.

There is no longer a traffic shift to the left approaching the Kendrick Street bridge, the future fourth lane serves as the temporary shoulder almost to Highland Avenue.

Heading underneath the Kendrick Street bridge with construction equipment grading the future right shoulder behind the concrete barrier.

Final work is also proceeding on the future C/D lanes between Kendrick Street and Highland Avenue, though work has finished on the new left lane.

Approaching Highland Avenue, sign in future C/D lanes reminds drivers shoulder travel is permitted during rush hours morning and evening.

The current traffic alignment creates a rather sharp curve needed to get beyond the temporary barrier and access the ramp to Highland Avenue East.

Beyond the ramp work is proceeding in grading the lanes toward the ramp to Highland Avenue West.

Again, traffic has to take a sharp turn to access the exit ramp with the traffic alignment now using the new left lane, while also avoiding traffic entering from behind the temporary barrier.

North of Highland Avenue, grading work continues along the new lanes (I-95 mainline and traffic from Highland Avenue) beyond the barrier to the right.

The permanent median barrier looms over traffic in the left and middle lanes following Highland Avenue.

Work continues along right shoulder to add new lane between Highland Avenue and Route 9 (along with noise wall construction on opposite side).

The northbound lane split for Route 9 bridge construction has been taken down at the top of the hill after Highland Avenue.

View down the hill toward the Route 9 interchange shows absence of split traffic pattern, seen now in southbound lanes (see photos below).

View at the northern end of the Add-A-Lane Project work zone with traffic using the new bridge over Route 9, future fourth lane behind barrier at left.

Turning around and heading Southbound:

Noise wall support installation still proceeding prior to official Add-A-Lane Project work zone.

A temporary guide sign among the support beams alerts I-95 South drivers to the new lane configuration at the Route 9 exit.

Entering the traffic split (I should have stayed to the left where the lanes flowed much better with no off and on-ramp traffic).

The temporary Route 9 East traffic sign that was in the center median was moved and is now is between the separated lanes of southbound traffic prior to new bridge construction.

Being in the right-side lanes does afford you a good look at construction of the new bridge for southbound lanes over Route 9.

As before the split, the right lane for MA 9 is exit only with the left lane for through traffic in the split-lane configuration.

And, as before, this means drivers trying to sneak around backed-up through traffic by cutting back from the exit-only lane when it ends prior to the Route 9 on-ramp.

A closer look at the noise wall support posts being installed along the Route 9 on-ramp beyond the merging traffic ahead of the end of the lane-split.

Prior to the end of the lane-split there is a portable VMS alerting drivers to the new location of Exit 19A for Highland Avenue West.

There is another VMS in the right lane in the construction area for the two new lanes to be built between Route 9 and Highland Avenue.

The noise wall supports continue along southbound toward the new ramp to Highland Avenue West.

A temporary exit sign before the new Highland Avenue exit ramp which does not require quite as sharp a turn as northbound.

The former Exit 19A ramp area now hosts construction equipment and more concrete barriers to be placed along future CD lanes paralleling the southbound lanes.

Temporary and permanent concrete barriers in place for future C/D lanes at site of future bridge and under current Highland Avenue bridge.

View south of the Highland Avenue bridge showing progress in building future C/D lanes and noise barrier walls.

Noise wall near completion paralleling future ramp to Kendrick Street and temporary barrier ahead of Highland Ave on-ramp.

Work is proceeding to grade to pave and complete grading of the future on-ramp lane from Highland Avenue approaching the Kendrick Street bridge.

Paving and temporary lane striping for the future fourth lane on the right, now serving as the shoulder/breakdown lane prior to the Kendrick Street on-ramp.

What appears to be the final paving of the southbound lanes south of Kendrick Street with fourth lane serving as shoulder and barrels blocking off future work along the permanent right shoulder.

Former concrete barriers await removal along completed stretch south of Kendrick Street with new lane serving as temporary shoulder.

Some shoulder work remains to be completed approaching southern end of construction zone by Real Time Traffic sign.

Orange barrels block off future right shoulder from traffic at southern end of project work zone approaching Great Plain Avenue.

Earlier Photos from July 8 and 9, 2017:

Traveling northbound:

Nothing new to report up to Kendrick Street. The road surface has been repaved prior to the Highland Avenue exits while work has been completed putting up guardrails along the future ramps between Kendrick Street and Highland.

Completed guardrail and future Kendrick St ramp behind temporary barrier approaching Highland Avenue East exit in Needham.

The newly paved lanes lead under the new (future westbound) Highland Avenue bridge.

Work continues on adding new lanes along the right of I-95 North just after the Highland Avenue bridge.

Looking to the southbound lanes, supports are now being added beyond the new lane being constructed for a sound barrier wall between Route 9 and Highland Avenue.

Work continues to clear a path for the new lane heading up the hill toward the Route 9 interchange after Highland Avenue.

Heading down the hill into Wellesley and the Route 9 interchange, work largely has been completed northbound prior to the bridges, though more median work remains to be completed.

Work continues on completing the bridge over Route 9 while I-95/128 traffic is still split until after the westbound bridge.

Construction equipment parked in the median by the Route 9 bridges at the northern end of the Add-A-Lane Project work zone.

Heading back southbound (no rain this time):

Prior to the actual Project work zone they are adding noise barrier walls along the south of I-95/Route 128. Looks like there going to have to move the existing reassurance marker.

A better look at the median construction work can be seen entering the work zone southbound before Route 9.

Another look at the sound wall support posts going up starting along the Route 9 on-ramp and continuing southbound into Needham.

Concrete barrier to the right separates I-95/128 traffic from new lane and noise wall construction heading down hill toward Highland Avenue.

Installation of wall supports ends just prior to Highland Avenue west off-ramp. Large dirt piles remain at location of Highland Avenue bridge construction.

Construction equipment can be seen along future lanes on either side of the highway before Highland Avenue.

Cement culverts, construction equipment and dirt piles remain between the new Highland Avenue bridge and the ramps to and from I-95/Route 128 in Needham.

View from under the Highland Avenue bridge prior to the eastbound exit and entering the new southbound I-95/128 lanes.

Traveling on the recently shifted southbound lanes between Highland Avenue and Kendrick Street, the old right side of the highway will now be used for the C/D lanes between the two streets.

Wall panels are now being installed for the sound barrier walls between Highland Avenue and Kendrick Street while traffic has been shifted over to the new lanes.

The berm in the median has now grown over with vegetation while work continues to the right on the new lane prior to Kendrick Street.

Southbound traffic slowly shifting off of new lanes prior to going under the Kendrick Street bridge.

Traffic still enters from the new Kendrick Street off-ramp behind a temporary work barrier, limit the sight distance while entering I-95 South.

Paving work and work along right shoulder remains to be completed between Kendrick Street and the southern end of the Add-A-Lane Project work zone.

Previous Photos from June 4, 2017:

Traveling northbound:

At the start of the work zone, the median barrier is complete and the new left-most lane has been paved.

Barrels separate the new paved lane from the rest of the northbound roadway approaching the Kendrick Street interchange.

Pre-existing services sign for Highland Avenue prior to new Kendrick Street interchange and paved new left-most lane and permanent median barrier.

View from under the Kendrick Street bridge of nearly completed ramp from Kendrick Street.

New guardrail construction for the ramp from Kendrick Street to Highland Avenue can be seen beyond the temporary right-side barrier.

The guardrail installation appears complete approaching the current Highland Avenue East ramp.

View approaching new Highland Avenue bridge, work proceeding on second span beyond.

View from future location of westbound bridge showing progress in building auxiliary lanes between Highland Avenue and Route 9.

Traffic in both directions is separated by permanent concrete barrier with construction work proceeding along the outside lanes.

Work has started in putting up noise barrier walls along both sides of the highway approaching the Route 9 interchange.

Looking down toward the Route 9 interchange in Wellesley showing barrier construction and work in what will become the center median.

Work is continuing on completing the permanent bridges over Route 9 at the northern end of the project work zone.

Paving has been completed on the future northbound lanes over Route 9, and on the median barrier. Unfortunately, it was raining when I returned the other direction and I was unable to take and photos.

Previous photos from April 17, 2017:

Traveling southbound on Patriot's Day afternoon:

Heading across the Route 9 bridge showing a cluster of temporary signage around the exit ramp and the lane drop.

Work has been proceeding in clearing room for the future lanes from Route 9 to Highland Avenue including another rock cut along the southbound lanes.

A closer view of the project work after the Route 9 on-ramp where you now have a clear view of a house and retaining wall by the southbound lanes (now an ideal residence for a traffic reporter?).

Looking down the hill toward Highland Avenue with work proceeding on the new right lanes behind the temporary retaining wall.

Continuing down the hill, you can see the work being done around Highland Avenue on the northbound side preparing the westbound bridge over I-95/128.

A closer look at the northbound work, since southbound is being blocked by this poorly timed passing truck.

Better view of southbound construction. To the right, work is now proceeding in removing the base of the former railroad bridge to make room for the two new lanes that will be built between Route 9 and Highland Avenue.

The Highland Avenue interchange area southbound has become a storage place for completed structures awaiting installation and several dirt piles.

While little progress has been made in completing the sound barrier walls to the right, work is proceeding on grading the future lanes in the current median to the left. I-95 South thru traffic will be moved to the left so auxiliary lanes can be built on part of the current lanes to carry traffic between Highland Avenue and Kendrick Street.

Another view of median work further south along with the building of a berm in the median just north of the Kendrick Street bridge.

Speaking of the Kendrick Street bridge, this area is largely complete save for completing the median work and removing the temporary barrier to the left and repaving and re-striping the southbound lanes.

Just south of the bridge, the work appears to be mostly complete on the median barrier and the new lane has been paved, this would leave only the remaining lanes to be paved to complete the project between Kendrick Street and Great Plain Avenue.

Further south near the northbound overhead sign for Kendrick Street, showing the same condition of completeness.

Same story at the southern end of the project, however, the new left lane has not been paved at this location.

Previous photos, taken on  January 23, 2017:

On and off snow showers prevented a lot of photo being taken, but some progress can be seen in the amount of construction debris near Highland Avenue:

The view also included some local wildlife. Work has started in earnest on creating the new lanes between Highland Avenue and Route 9.

Work is closer to Highland Ave heading north and toward the top of the hill heading south, which includes these crane structures:

The permanent median barrier is now in use separating the north and southbound traffic. The gore sign at the MA 9 exit is also a permanent one (though maybe not a permanent number):

Heading back south, they have begun storing the future bridge deck beams for the westbound span of the Highland Avenue bridge in the center median near the southbound lanes:

The beams continue toward the Kendrick Street bridge:

Earlier Photos taken on January 1, 2017 in Needham and Wellesley:

Progress has been made since October in installing the center median barrier and preparing the area for the additional lane at the southern end of the southern end of the project:

Most of the barrier has been constructed south of Kendrick Street with an exception where a new overhead sign support is being installed prior to the Kendrick Street exit:

A photo taken at the Kendrick Street interchange shows little change, with most of the work already completed:

Here's a view of the nearly completed Kendrick Street on-ramp which has been paved but cannot be seen in this photo:

A closer view of the future merge area between the Kendrick St. off-ramp and I-95/128 North showing guardrail has been installed on the future C/D lanes between Kendrick St. and Highland Ave.:

The view looking toward the Highland Ave. bridge is a little different now that the older bridge has been removed and more of the site area cleared, the new I-95 North exit sign seen to the right has a destination of Waltham:

There has also been progress creating the new center median barrier between Highland Ave. and Route 9, allowing the start of moving northbound traffic to the left so that the extra right lane can be built:

A view higher up the hill where work has finished blasting away rock for the space needed for the extra lanes:

While traffic is still split before the Route 9 exit, the right side now uses the completed part of the new northbound bridge:

A closer look at the bridge crossing:

Turning around here's what the view looks like entering the Add-A-Lane construction zone from the north:

The view from the top of the hill back towards Highland Ave showing the permanent median barrier right next to the traffic lanes that have moved to the left to allow for the construction of additional lanes to the right:

A view closer to the new Highland Ave bridge, now with the old bridge out of the way:

A view from closer to the new bridge showing the temporary exit signs for Highland Ave. (sorry about the glare):

A view from under the bridge of the relocated exit ramp to Highland Ave. East need to connect with the new bridge:

Progress is being made in the wide center median area to prepare for the extra lanes for I-95/128 South:

They have finished installing supports for the noise barrier walls, but not the walls themselves toward Kendrick St., work on the ramp is proceeding:

View of the northbound ramp from Kendrick Street across the way:

Finally, a look at the progress in the median between Kendrick St. and the end of the construction zone heading south again showing he gap in the permanent barrier for overhead sign support installation:

Previous Photos taken on October 30, 2016, Needham - Wellesley Section

Not too much change is obvious from the previous photos taken northbound before Kendrick Street:

Here's a closer view of the odd looking gore sign resulting from a temporary removal of the planned A suffix, the temporary lane shift before the bridge is still in effect, the permanent center median is finished in this area:

More progress can be seen for the future Kendrick Street flyover ramp to I-95 North, the ramp is now paved, not seen in the photo:

Close look at temporary exit sign for the first Highland Avenue exit:

This is the last photo to be taken of the old Highland Avenue Bridge over I-95/128 North, it is to be demolished the weekend of November 5-6 with traffic detoured off at the exit ramps:

New temporary signage has been put up for new traffic configuration for the Route 9 exits, another split of traffic lanes to go with the first:

This photo approaching the Route 9 exit also shows progress in cutting back the rock face for the new exit lanes:

The exiting traffic is using the new northbound bridge that will be open to all traffic in mid-November:

Heading back southbound,view from the top of the hill heading toward Highland Avenue, most of the permanent median barrier is in place:

The new median barrier ends before Highland Avenue and what remains of the old Highland Avenue bridge awaits final demolition on November 5 and 6:

Here's a closer look of what remains of the bridge over southbound I-95/128:

Beyond the bridge, work is continuing on the future access roads and noise barriers between Highland Avenue and Kendrick Street:

Little new to report south of Kendrick Street on constructing the new lane and median barrier:

Previous Photos Taken on August 21, 2016 (Needham Section)

MassDOT opened the on-ramps to the newly completed Kendrick Street bridge on August 19, 2016. This included placing new overhead signage for the exit on I-95 North. Here is the 1-Mile Advance sign:

As you can see, there is space next to the 19. Originally, the exit was, according to the MassDOT project page, to be Exit 19A, however the A was removed from the signs (including the gore sign which was placed earlier in the week as 19A) just prior to the signs being put up. A similar sign is at the 1/2 mile advance point:

As here is the signage at the ramp, notice the gore sign in the distance with the numbers on the far to account for then now missing A:

If these exits receive new milepost based numbers, MassDOT will have to decide whether it should be given the number 35A, the exit is at milepost 35.1, or fudge the number and make it 34. If it's 35A then the next two Highland Avenue exits would be 35B and 35C. The problem is that there will be no direct ramp to Kendrick Street southbound and so drivers would see 35C and B, but no A which could be confusing. If MassDOT made the numbers 35B and A southbound, then the same exit ramp would have two different numbers, which could be confusing as well. MassDOT indicates that the rest of the ramp system will not open until the fall of 2018. Here's the completed ramp to Kendrick St.:

While here's what progress has been made on the new on-ramp from Kendrick Street to I-95 North:

Here's a couple views of ramp construction taken from a street paralleling I-95 North between Kendrick St. and Highland Ave., showing some of the on-ramp structure has been completed:

Here's a closer look from the entrance to the Coca Cola Bottling Plant bordering Kendrick Street:

The new Kendrick Street bridge was officially completed on Friday 8/19/16 with two lanes heading east and one south, with a signalized left turn for the new I-95 South ramp. Here's the mew small I-95 guide sign at the beginning of the bridge:

Traffic taking the ramp from I-95 North can only go right at the end of the ramp. This is the permanent condition, according to MassDOT documents, the overhead guide sign in the distance also only refers to Canton as a destination, or control city:

As you can see, bicyclists are already taking advantage of the new bike lane. The signage at the ramp is the standard Mass. guide or paddle sign, also just referring to Canton:

Here's the view from the on-ramp heading toward I-95/Route 128 South:

It will be interesting to see how drivers get used to the new ramp, especially at rush hours when the breakdown lane is in use. Concrete barriers, seen in the distance, line the right side of I-95 just up to where the ramp enters the highway, possibly restricting the view of cars entering from the ramp. Work has also been proceeding on the new Highland Ave. bridge over I-95. Here's the view northbound:

The exit ramps are being reconfigured to meet the new bridge. Here is the southbound ramp to eastbound Highland Avenue (Exit 19A):

Noise barriers are not only being built along I-95 as seen above, but also along the ramps heading to and from Highland Ave.:

Here's the view of the new bridge, looking close to completion, over I-95/Route 128, from the end of the southbound exit ramp:

Between Highland Avenue and Route 9, some progress can be seen in the placement of a permanent median barrier:

And work is wrapping up on excavating rock for the new northbound lanes near the MA 9 exit:

Work is also proceeding on the new bridge northbound over Route 9:

Here's a closer view of the new bridge under construction:

Previous Photos Taken on June 12, 2016 (Needham Section)

Heading northbound from Dedham, little progress can be seen along the median between Great Plain Avenue and the Highland Avenue Area, either at the start of the work zone:

or further toward the Highland Ave. Exit:

Work on the off-ramp connecting to the Kendrick Street future on-ramp area can be seen beyond the blue services sign:

Work has proceeded greatly in creating the retaining walls for the future on and off-ramps from Kendrick Street:

Here's a closer view of the northbound off-ramp that will also serve drivers to Highland Avenue East and southbound on-ramp from Kendrick Street, with completed permanent center median barrier:

Here's the completed support work for the future on-ramp to I-95/128 North from Kendrick Street:

Work is still proceeding on the new Highland Avenue bridges and clearing for the new ramp system from I-95/128 North:

Following the Highland Ave. bridge, work is starting on extending the new median barrier between Highland Ave. and the MA 9 exits:

A closer view of the median barrier in place starting at the bottom of the hill (lane split prior to MA 9 bridge still in place):

Work has started in clearing away the rocks that stand in the way of the new fourth lane approaching Route 9:

Looking at work surrounding the MA 9 interchange. The additional fourth lane now begins right after the MA 9 East off-ramp, within the construction zone:

Heading back south, here's the approach to the MA 9 interchange showing new rock cut along northbound lanes:

View looking toward Highland Avenue from the top of the hill, showing work on constructing permanent median barrier:

View of still existing old Highland Avenue westbound bridge over I-95:

After the Highland Avenue bridge, little additional work on noise barrier walls between Highland Ave and Kendrick St, or median construction:

Approaching the Kendrick St. bridge,showing progress in building the future on-ramps:

Here's a closer look at the retaining walls north of Kendrick Street along I-95 South (across median from I-95 northbound lanes):

Progress can be seen in the future on-ramp retaining wall south of the bridge:

Here's a close view of the work on the ramp itself to I-95 South:

Finally, a look at lack of median work between Kendrick St. and the southern end of the work zone:

Previous Photos: April 24, 2016 (Dedham Section):

Some of the recently placed signage at the exit ramps within the work zone. The Route 109 off-ramps have an additional I-95 ground mounted trailblazer sign, in addition to the auxiliary signs for Route 128. This is on West 109:

Heading east on Route 109 there is an unusual, for recent installations, combination I-95/128 South auxiliary trailblazer:

As can be seen in the distance, there is another ground-mounted I-95 North guide sign, along with the typical overhead sign, in the distance, and now close up:

The back of the westbound version can also be seen on the left. Moving to the Great Plain Avenue exit, there are several large Route 128 trailblazers that tend to overwhelm the standard I-95 South green guide (paddle) signs. Here's the signage at the northbound on-ramp:

It doesn't help that the guide sign is partially obscured by other signage. Here's the signage heading the other way into Needham:

Here the Route 128 sign is before the I-95 one, unlike in most other places. Here's a closer look at the I-95 sign with Canton as the local destination:

Lastly, back along I-95 there is an unusual, for recent installations, set of reassurance markers for I-95 and Route 128 South that are posted after crossing the Charles River bridge into Dedham:

These are on separate posts, unlike all the other new reassurance markers put up along this completed Add-A-Lane project section.

Previous Photos Taken on April 2, 2016 (Needham Section):

Views of construction progress heading south. The first shot is at the top of the hill looking toward Highland Ave. showing progress in re-doing the median:

Some progress has been made in installing the permanent median barrier between the bridge above and Highland Avenue:

Here's the view at the bottom of the hill:

Work appears to have slowed at the Highland Ave. bridge itself:

Here are new views of the noise barrier supports going up between Highland Ave. and Kendrick Street:

They continue on toward Kendrick Street:

The noise barrier will parallel the new off-ramp to Kendrick Street:

Here's a closer look of the completed Kendrick Street bridge:

Work is continuing to place the support wall along the future Kendrick Street on-ramp to I-95/128 South:

No real progress to be seen in median construction between Kendrick Street and the completed section in Dedham:

Previous Photos from Feb. 27, 2016:

A. Dedham Section: Photo of the one North I-95/MA 128 reassurance marker previously not taken on the January trip:

B. Needham Section: Not much progress to report on the median work at the southern end of the project in late February:

The last part of the old Kendrick Street bridge has been taken down:

Progress has also been made in completing the new Kendrick Street on-ramp beyond the bridge:

Work on the exterior appears to be nearing completion at the far end of the future on-ramp:

There's also been progress in building the permanent median barrier between the MA 9 and Highland Avenue exits:

But not much new to report at the northern end of the project approaching MA 9:

Photos Taken on January 9, 2016:

A. Dedham Section: Work seems almost completed (with the exception of one support pole awaiting a new exit sign for US 1). Most orange barrels have been removed and new I-95/128 trailblazers installed.

Here's one of the two new trailblazers northbound, just after the Great Plain Avenue exit. The new fourth lane starts southbound just after the Railroad bridge before the Great Plain Avenue exit:

The back of the trailblazer in the first photo can be seen on the left. Here's the view crossing the new four-lane Charles River bridge:

An 'Exit Only' tab has been added to the first MA 135 exit sign after the bridge. Here's a view (through a messy windshield) of the new South I-95/MA 128 trailblazer after the MA 135 exit in Dedham:

The re-opened 'Truck Turnout' is ahead. Here is a view of the opened 4-lanes prior the MA 109 exit:

The new bridge was finally completed in December, as shown by this closeup photo:

The last new trailblazer follows the MA 109 East on-ramp (there's also a new one after the exit northbound, not pictured):

B. Needham Section: Work has progressed on building the new center median, the new bridges over I-95 and the new interchange at Kendrick Street

A view of the progress in median construction at the start of the construction zone on I-95/128 North:

Work has not started here on placing the permanent concrete median. As the signs say, there's a lane shift approaching the Kendrick Street bridge, before the Highland Avenue exit:

This is to allow protection for workers building the new on-ramp at Kendrick Street. Here's a closeup of the old bridge being dismantled:

On the other side work is progressing in building the new on-ramp from Kendrick Street with the steel supports for the roadway now in place:

They are also making progress with the new Highland Avenue bridge at the exit itself:

Work has commenced in placing a new center median north of the Highland Avenue exit:

Installation of the permanent concrete barrier has begun near the beginning of the hill, as seen in this closer view:

As the signs indicate, there's now a split in the northbound roadway approaching the MA 9 exit, due to reconstruction of the I-95 bridge. There are two lanes to the right and one along the old median to the left:

New temporary ground-mounted signs have taken the place of the overhead signs for this exit:

Heading back south, here's the view from the top of the hill after entering Needham following the MA 9 exit:

This is where the permanent median barrier begins at this time. A view of the end of the new barrier approaching the Highland Avenue exit:

And a look from the north of the bridge construction at Highland Avenue:

The new bridge is going up behind the old one, as are, as can be seen in the distance, noise barrier walls:

The barrier will parallel the old off-ramp from Highland Avenue and the new ramp to Kendrick Street:

A closer look at the new Kendrick Street bridge and supporting structure for the future ramp:

The concrete structure continues on the other side of the bridge tracing the path of the future on-ramp:

There's also a lane shift in this location matching that on the northbound side. A view of the median work being done after the Highland Avenue exit:

The permanent barrier is in place in this location, but not toward the end of the construction zone approaching Great Plain Avenue:

Previous Photos, Taken 10/22/15

A. Dedham Section: All lanes are now open northbound, work continues southbound but traffic is taking advantage of the cleared fourth lane.

Several views of the open lanes heading northbound in Dedham:

The final lane striping is all that is needed, and removing barrels from the breakdown lane. Here's the view at MA 135:

They still haven't gotten to removing the covering on the hidden Exit Only tab for the Great Plain Ave. exit:

Turning around, the start of the new four-lane section starts just before the railroad bridge as you enter Dedham on I-95/128 South:

Meanwhile, near Route 109 traffic is using the new fourth lane, even if its officially not open:

B. Needham Section-Work continues on the bridge and medians. Here's the start of the newly installed permanent center concrete median barrier just beyond Kendrick Street.

The median barrier extends for about 3/4 of a mile more toward Great Plain Avenue:

Previous Photos,Taken on October 1, 2015:

A. Dedham Section: Work here is almost complete. Northbound they are putting on the final layers of asphalt:

The lanes are marked with temporary markers which do not distinguish between the open lanes and the future, now breakdown lane, this leads to some vehicles, such as the truck above, to use the lane outside the morning and afternoon allowed time period (and even in a section not completely tarred which has the breakdown lane marked).

A similar scene northbound at the start of the near completed section north of Great Plain Avenue:

While there are no cars in the future fourth lane here, this changed as traffic backed up by the MA 135 exit and many cars used it to get around slow left and middle lane traffic.

It appears work is almost complete on the southbound MA 109 bridge (above), once finished they'll be able to open the fourth lane southbound.

B. Newton Section

Work is proceeding in this section. Here's the scene approaching the Kendrick Street Bridge northbound:

Not much progress can be scene from the highway when compared to the previous photo taken in July, much of the work is apparently on the bridge itself. Progress can be seen though regarding the supports being constructed for the future ramp from Kendrick Street:

There is also progress to report on building the new Highland Avenue bridge:

A crane is installing the decking for the new bridge behind the current one.

The biggest change to report is at the north end of the project where the MA 9 interchange has been 'temporarily' reconfigured. The right-hand cloverleaf ramps from East MA 9 to I-95 North and West MA 9 to I-95 South have been closed. Traffic now has to make a left turn and use the preexisting ramps on the other side to access I-95. Here's some photos taken from West 9 accessing I-95 South:

This is the first temporary I-95 South trailblazer before the I-95/128 bridge. The bridge will be expanded northbound to handle the additional lane.

Here's the next two new trailblazers approaching the new traffic signals:

While most of the overhead signs have been removed. The one at the ramp remains, though with the previously right angled arrow repositioned to point straight left:

In addition to a trailblazer, there is also a portable variable message sign (VMS) at the turn for the ramp. The VMS is the only remaining reference to Route 128 currently westbound on MA 9:

The new on-ramp leads to a partially expanded existing on-ramp which, for now, requires a merge to one lane shortly after the intersection with the previously existing ramp:

Previous Photos, Taken September 23, 2015:

MassDOT has installed new D-6 Guide or 'Paddle' Signs at the East Street Interchange at the Westwood/Dedham line:

Note the left hand sign for I-95 South and that the sign for I-95 North/US 1 South has no destinations. Similar sign for I-95 South:

There were no trailblazers for Route 128 anywhere in the interchange area. Further south, as part of the project that will reconstruct the I-95 and I-93 interchange, a new off-ramp has been built southbound for the University Avenue/RR Station exit, with two new overhead signs. Here's the first:

Sorry for the mid-morning glare. As you can see the new ramp will be served by its own lane. Here's the other new BGS:

Work is still ongoing to finish the ramp and the connection to University Ave and the train station. All the old guide signs have been removed, but no replacements have been put up for I-95 South, guess they figure everyone know how to access the highway.

Photos Taken on July 5, 2015:

As stated before, completion of this section is being held up due to problems constructing the new MA 109 bridge over I-95. Here's what the bridges look like northbound:

Still substantial work needs to be done to complete the MA 109 West bridge. The project is largely complete though north of MA 109 to MA 135:

Work is still continuing, judged by the remaining orange barrels, however, northbound between MA 135 and Great Plain Ave.:

The final(?) paving project is still going on near Great Plain Ave. and to the north:

Work though is largely complete north to the railroad bridge:

Concrete median barriers have now gone up along the final section of the project north of the Railroad Bridge:

These barriers appear on the right and in the median approaching the Kendrick Ave. Bridge:

Work has started to replace the Kendrick Avenue Bridge along the northbound side of the highway:

In addition to the bridge, a new interchange is to be built with Kendrick Street tying in to the existing Highland Ave. exit. Here's the start of support columns for the new ramp system:

Work has also started between Highland Avenue and MA 9. Here's the view going up the hill at the site of the former railroad bridge:

Here's looking down from the crest of the hill toward the north end of the project at the MA 9 interchange in Newton:

Southbound views, taken the same day:

The temporary exit signage at the start of the construction zone is replacing the overheads in the same location, though wouldn't the exit sign be better on the right, where the exit is?

Left side construction barriers continue along the median by the Exit 20A ramp through the lane-drop where construction on the additional lane will start.

Construction has started in the median starting downhill toward the Highland Avenue interchange.

The taking out of the railroad bridge also required removing the overhead signs for the area, replaced by ground-mounted orange versions.

Approaching the Kendrick Street bridge from the north showing the progress of widening the road for the future bridge and highway lanes.

Mirroring northbound, not much activity southbound except for new median barriers between the Highland Avenue and Great Plain Avenue exits.

Work has basically been completed prior to the railroad bridge in Dedham, the future fourth lane striped as a breakdown lane.

A final coat of asphalt is still needed between the Great Plain Ave. and MA 135 exits crossing over the Charles River.

Both the additional travel lane and exit-only lane before the MA 135 interchange will be ready after an additional layer of pavement.

The road is ready south of MA 135, but the additional lane is not open due to the remaining issues in completing the MA 109 bridge (see photos below).

Previous photos, taken on May 9, 2015:

Most of the signage between Exits 15 and 18 has been replaced. Heading north, here is the new overhead 1/2 Mile Advance sign for MA 109 East, with truck restriction banner:

The lanes have been reconfigured to have the new 4th lane end as an exit only lane at MA 109 West, though there is only temporary lane ends signage, not featured on the exit signs:

Here's a closeup of the new MA 109 eastbound bridge, almost completed, the completion of the westbound bridge being the last barrier to opening the additional fourth lane through to Exit 18:

Here's the new 1 Mile Advance overhead for MA 135:

The new additional 4th lane is to the right and is now complete between Exits 16 and 18, separated by a solid white line. Here's the next new 1/2 Mile Advance for MA 135 and 1 Mile for Exit 18:

Followed up by new exit signage at the MA 135 Ramp:

The last new signs northbound feature covered over 'Exit Only' Banners, both at 1/4 Mile distance--

And at the ramp itself:

Work has started on constructing the remaining new lane segment northbound to MA 9. It will be a few years before new signage is placed in this segment. Meanwhile, some of the existing overhead gantries have been removed for the current signage, here approaching Exit 19:

Heading Southbound between Needham and Dedham:

The first of the new overheads placed was for the 1/2 mile advance for Exit 18 Great Plain Avenue:

Many of the new signs for Exits 18 and 17 were put up during early 2014:

The other signs for the MA 125 exit feature a space for new 'Exit Only' banner, here empty:

While the other is up, though the lane was not open at the time:

There was also an 1 Mile advance sign for MA 109 put up around the same time:

The remainder of the MA 109 signage would wait until later in 2014. Here's one of the new advance overheads for the MA 109 West Exit--

From July 2015, here's the new assembly approaching the MA 109 bridge, both directions still under construction:

A closer look at the bridge itself:

While here's a view of the final MA 109 exit sign:

There is also now a new cantilever support post for a future US 1 Exit Advance sign:

Taken at Northern End of Project in October 2013--

Approaching the MA 109 bridge being reconstructed over I-95/128 North in Dedham at Exit 16A Off-Ramp.

A closer view of the bridge construction. Construction was halted for a time in 2012 when the contractors determined that the ground around the current bridge could not support the new structure as it was then designed. 

View heading downhill on I-95/128 North in vicinity of MA 135 Exit, work had just been completed on new bridge heading southbound opposite where this photo was taken, could not get a daytime photo going the other direction.

Taken along I-95/128 North in January 2010--

Construction almost complete beyond I-93 interchange in Canton. (1/2010)

New signage for To 1A Exit 15B (No new sign yet for Exit 15B as of November 2013). 1/2010

New pull through and Exit 15 B/US 1 Signage along I-95/128 North in Dedham (and ramp signage above). (1/2010)

Taken Along I-95/128 South in January 2010:

Pre-existing overhead signage for US 1/MA 1A that had not been replaced as of January 2010. (1/2010)

Existing overhead signage near bridge construction as part of I-95 Add-A-Lane Project in early 2010. (1/2010)

New signage placed at ramp for Exit 15A, To MA 1A, as part of Add-A-Lane Project in early 2010. (1/2010)

New diagrammatic overhead sign 2 miles before I-95/I-93 interchange in Dedham. (1/2010)

Image of new overhead signage with rare 800 feet distance prior to Exit 13 on I-95 South/US 1 North. (1/2010)

Going Northbound Again, From February 2010:

Newly placed overhead for Exit 14 and progress in building sound barrier wall along I-95 North/US 1 South in Dedham. (2/2010)

New advance sign for US 1 and ramp sign for East St/Canton St in February 2010 and sound barrier construction. (1/2010)

C. New Signage Placed at I-95/128 Split in Peabody in (Photos from June 2013)--

New diagrammatic overhead with rare 1/3 mile distance on I-95/128 North in Peabody. Sign was placed as part of project replacing exit signage along MA 128 between Peabody and Gloucester in 2012.

Downward arrow per lane overhead signs at split of I-95 and MA 128 North in Peabody. MUTCD guidance now calls for signs like this to have upward facing arrows, MassDOT has not adopted this practice, unlike New Hampshire.

Visit the I-95 Exit List page to check out the future exit numbers along that route.

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(c) 2013-2020 Robert H. Malme